Laredo ISD's Leadership Summit at Nelson Center

Laredo ISD's Leadership Summit at Nelson Center

11:21 PM   

Leadership Summit Sets the Stage for a New School Year

The Laredo Independent School District recently hosted its Superintendent’s Leadership Summit at the Nelson Conference Center, from July 29 to 31. This event brought together nearly 200 administrators and campus leaders, with the goal of outlining the district's vision for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. The summit aimed to reinforce key priorities, objectives, and strategies that will drive districtwide success.

Guillermo Pro, the interim superintendent of LISD, emphasized the theme for the new school year: "Level-Up." This theme represents the district's commitment to elevating every aspect of service provided to students. From food quality to transportation and safety measures, the focus is on delivering excellence in all areas.

Pro explained that this initiative means raising the standard of service across the board. For instance, if the current food is good, it will be improved to be even better. Similarly, air conditioning systems will be maintained to ensure comfort, and bus drivers will be trained to know every child on their route and approach their work with dedication.

The summit also served as a platform for leadership development, with breakout sessions designed to prepare participants for the challenges ahead. Pro noted that this was the first major event where the leadership team came together to discuss and learn collectively, aiming to elevate the district's performance.

Academic Performance and Future Goals

Academically, the district has shown strong results. Sixteen elementary schools earned an A, four received a B, and all high schools were awarded an A. Middle schools showed mixed results, but the overall trend indicates a commitment to academic excellence.

Pro expressed a desire to move beyond just meeting minimum standards. “We don’t just want to get a 91, but to get to a 95. If you get a 95, then get to a 100,” he said. This mindset reflects the district's aspiration to continually improve and reach higher levels of achievement.

School safety remains a top priority. Pro stressed the importance of maintaining secure environments, including well-maintained fences and functioning gates. The district has also implemented advanced security technology, such as Evolv Systems, which helps detect prohibited items and enhances safety at the front of schools.

Financial Challenges and Strategic Planning

Financially, the district faces challenges due to decreased federal support. Pro noted that state funding now plays a more critical role in operating the schools. To address potential budget shortfalls, the district has developed contingency plans to ensure services continue uninterrupted.

Enrollment decline has also impacted the district's finances. Pro mentioned that the student population has dropped from 21,000 to 18,000, partly due to changes in boundaries and the effects of the pandemic. Despite these challenges, the district remains committed to providing high-quality education, nutritious meals, safe environments, and reliable transportation.

Legal Updates and Community Confidence

Legal updates were another key topic during the summit. Pro addressed concerns about recent legislation, particularly regarding cell phone use in schools. He clarified that the law prohibits phone use during instructional time but does not authorize confiscation by staff. The district already had a policy in place five years ago, which is now legally mandated.

Pro also reassured parents that schools are safe zones and that ICE raids would not occur within the district. He emphasized the district’s role as a supportive environment for all students.

Emphasizing Responsibility and Collaboration

Homero Tijerina, a facilitator at Jose A. Valdez High School, highlighted the importance of leading by example. Pro’s message to take responsibility and set a positive example resonated with attendees. Tijerina noted that small actions, like picking up trash, can have a significant impact on the district’s culture.

He also stressed the importance of financial stability and the district’s progress in improving school ratings. Maintaining these achievements requires collective effort and shared goals.

A Year-Round Commitment

Tijerina encouraged parents to remain actively involved in their children’s education. He emphasized that the district and families must work together to achieve student success. “Alone, we can't do anything, but together, we can move forward.”

Lizzy Newsome, principal at Francisco S. Lara Academy, expressed excitement about the new school year and the leadership of Pro. She praised the summit for bringing the team together and preparing them for the challenges ahead. Newsome also highlighted the importance of staying informed about legal updates and ensuring accurate communication with parents.

A Strong Start for the New School Year

Newsome noted that every agenda item at the summit was relevant and interconnected. She emphasized that safety, curriculum, and instruction must all align to meet state expectations. The summit provided essential information to help the district start the school year on the right foot.

She also welcomed the new leadership and praised Pro for his ability to inspire and lead with respect. His presence has created a sense of optimism and excitement within the district.

Newsome encouraged students and parents to embrace the new school year with enthusiasm. She emphasized the importance of mental health and urged students to seek support when needed. Parents were encouraged to build strong relationships with their children.

A Unified Mission

Pro concluded by reinforcing the district’s commitment to all employees, regardless of their role. He stated that every individual contributes to the district’s success, whether they are a janitor, bus driver, or administrator. Everyone plays a vital role in the district’s mission to elevate accountability and ensure student success.

He urged students and parents to come to class every day and believe in the district’s ability to help them achieve their dreams. “All dreams can come true if you believe in yourself and if you believe in us.”

Why Online Acting Training Is Rising as a Leadership Tool

Why Online Acting Training Is Rising as a Leadership Tool

3:28 AM   

The New Demands on Modern Leaders

Leaders today face a unique set of challenges that require more than just strategic thinking. Communication is constant, attention spans are short, and much of leadership now happens over screens. This means people aren’t just judging decisions — they’re judging tone, clarity, timing, and presence.

Modern leaders have to motivate across time zones, handle high-stakes meetings, deliver clear updates, and navigate complex conversations with confidence. However, traditional leadership training often falls short in preparing individuals for this kind of visibility. As a result, companies are starting to value emotional intelligence, adaptability, and clear delivery just as much as technical expertise.

These traits build trust, calm tension, and inspire action. They help a leader hold the room — even if that room is a Zoom call with 20 distracted faces. In short, the ability to connect on a human level is no longer optional. It has become a core part of leading well. Many leaders are finding that the fastest way to build that skillset isn’t in a business seminar — it’s through acting.

What Acting Training Actually Teaches

Acting isn’t about pretending. It’s about becoming present, aware, and emotionally honest — all qualities that effective leaders need. In a typical acting class, you’re not just learning lines. You’re learning how to connect, listen, and respond with intention.

Online acting programs teach vocal control — how to speak with clarity, adjust your pace, and use tone to match the message. You also learn body language: how to hold space without dominating it, and how to project confidence even under pressure. Improvisation plays a big role too. Leaders often find themselves in unscripted moments — tough questions, team resistance, sudden change. Acting trains you to stay flexible and centered, not frozen or reactive.

But maybe the most underrated skill it teaches is listening. Real listening — the kind where you pick up on cues, adjust your energy, and stay engaged in the moment. It’s a muscle most people don’t realize they’ve stopped using. Actors build it on purpose. These are not performance tricks. They’re tools for real-life leadership — the kind that helps someone stay calm during conflict, own a room during a pitch, or speak up with conviction when the moment calls for it.

Why Leaders Are Turning to Online Acting Programs

Until recently, acting classes felt out of place in the business world. Now they’re showing up in leadership retreats, exec coaching packages, and corporate training budgets. Why? Because they work — and because online platforms have made them more accessible than ever.

Leaders can now practice from home, on their schedule, without the pressure of walking into a physical studio. That flexibility has lowered the barrier — especially for people who are curious but cautious. Online sessions offer a safe space to try, fail, and improve without worrying about being judged. There’s also a growing number of programs tailored specifically for professionals. These aren’t classes trying to turn you into a stage actor — they’re focused on helping you show up better in meetings, interviews, pitches, and tough conversations.

In today’s remote-first world, delivery matters more than ever. You can have the best ideas in the room, but if you speak flat, fidget nervously, or rush through your point, people miss it. Acting training fixes that — and more leaders are starting to see the value. This isn’t about learning to perform. It’s about learning to lead when people are watching — which, these days, is almost all the time.

Real Skills, Real Results: Practical Leadership Gains

The value of acting training becomes clear the moment leaders apply it in real scenarios. One of the biggest benefits? Speaking with confidence — even when the stakes are high. Whether it’s a board meeting, a product pitch, or a public Q&A, leaders who’ve trained in performance techniques carry themselves differently. Their voice doesn’t waver. Their pacing is calm. They know when to pause — and how to land a point.

It also helps with tough conversations. Negotiating raises, delivering bad news, managing team conflict — these aren’t just about the message. They’re about tone, timing, and presence. Acting training helps leaders keep composure and communicate difficult things with clarity and empathy. Another area of improvement? Virtual presence. Most people still treat Zoom like a low-stakes interaction. But for leaders, every call is a chance to influence. Acting classes teach how to stay “on” — maintaining energy, adjusting delivery to match the medium, and reading non-verbal cues, even when they’re subtle.

Listening is another huge gain. In acting, if you’re not truly listening, the scene falls flat. That same discipline applies to leadership. Great listeners earn more trust, spot problems faster, and give more thoughtful responses. It’s not a soft skill. It’s a strategic one. Leaders also build emotional range. Instead of reacting from a single default mode (like control or defensiveness), they learn to shift. To read the room. To slow down. That adaptability often separates good managers from great ones.

What to Look for in an Online Acting Program

Not all acting programs are built the same — and not every course will translate well to leadership development. If you’re exploring this path, here’s what to prioritize:

• Live Interaction: Skip the pre-recorded-only options. Growth comes from feedback. Look for programs that offer live sessions where you can practice speaking, improvisation, and receive coaching in real time.
• Relevance to Business Contexts: Choose programs that understand professional needs. You don’t need Shakespeare — you need to learn how to show up confidently in meetings, handle high-stakes conversations, and connect with different audiences. Some courses are designed specifically with leadership and communication goals in mind.
• Focus on Delivery, Not Drama: The goal isn’t theatricality. It’s presence. Look for coaching that emphasizes vocal clarity, timing, posture, and eye contact — the details that change how a message lands.
• Opportunities to Practice: Learning happens through doing. Programs that include on-camera practice, role-play scenarios, or presentation drills will deliver faster results than ones based on theory alone.
• Flexibility and Accessibility: Look at session formats, time zones, and workload. The best programs respect your schedule but still keep you accountable with consistent, hands-on learning.

At its core, a good online acting course for leaders should feel challenging but safe — a place where you can take risks, refine your voice, and come out clearer, more grounded, and more prepared to lead in public.

Wrap-Up

Leadership today isn’t just about what you say — it’s how you say it, how you show up, and how people feel when you’re speaking. That’s why more founders, managers, and executives are stepping into a space they never expected: acting training. Online acting programs aren’t about becoming someone else. They’re about becoming more of who you are — confident, grounded, adaptable. They give leaders the space to practice real communication, build emotional range, and sharpen the skills that matter when eyes and ears are on you.

In a world full of noise, presence is power. And learning how to command a room — virtual or not — might just be the edge that sets great leaders apart in the years ahead.