Introduction
Special education leaders often operate under intense pressure with limited support. They are tasked with managing complex regulatory requirements, advocating for diverse student needs, and navigating system-wide challenges, all while striving to lead their teams with empathy and excellence.
Too often, these leaders work in isolation. They lack opportunities for peer collaboration, strategic reflection, and sustained leadership development that meets the emotional and organizational demands of their roles. Over time, this can lead to burnout, stalled innovation, and a loss of connection to the very mission that drew them to this work.
Solution
To support and sustain meaningful impact in the special education field, leadership development must go beyond one-time workshops and top-down directives. It must create space for co-creation, emotional connection, and action planning that honors both professional and human needs.
The WINGS Catalyst Lab, a partnership between SOAR Community Network universities and school systems, provides exactly that. It brings together special education leaders in a powerful, cohort-based experience designed to build resilience, leadership capacity, and a shared vision for change.
Through a structured, supportive framework, participants engage in:
- Self-awareness and values alignment using behavioral assessments and coaching
- Collaborative problem-solving focused on system-level challenges in special education
- Leadership practice labs where participants reflect, share, and refine their approaches
- Action planning sessions that connect individual growth to organizational strategy
- Ongoing connection with peers who understand the unique challenges of the work
This experience re-centers the leader while reigniting purpose. It equips participants to lead from a place of clarity, connection, and compassion.
Action
If you support or work with special education leaders—or if you are one—here are a few ways to begin fostering growth and collaboration:
- Prioritize Leadership Reflection: Create space for special education leaders to step out of reactive mode and reconnect with their purpose, vision, and values. Use tools like personal leadership reflections, coaching prompts, or facilitated retreats.
- Build Peer Learning Communities: Establish small, confidential cohorts of leaders who meet regularly to discuss real challenges, share best practices, and offer mutual support. This sense of community reduces isolation and builds trust across systems.
- Use Behavioral Science to Personalize Development: Each leader has a unique style and set of motivators. Use tools from our C3 Tools page to help leaders understand their own preferences and those of their teams, improving communication and decision-making.
- Offer Cohort-Based Leadership Labs: Bring programs like the WINGS Catalyst Lab to your region or district. These immersive experiences allow leaders to engage deeply with others who share their mission and walk away with both renewed energy and tangible strategies for systemic change.
- Connect Leadership to Strategy: Help special education leaders see how their growth directly impacts team culture, student outcomes, and policy shifts. Aligning leadership development with broader organizational goals strengthens buy-in and long-term success.
Conclusion
Special education leadership is essential and deeply personal work. It requires not only technical knowledge, but also compassion, courage, and community. When we invest in leaders through collaborative, human-centered programs like the WINGS Catalyst Lab, we not only prevent burnout—we build systems that are more just, more effective, and more resilient.
To explore how SOAR can support your team or bring a Catalyst Lab to your community, visit our Contact page.