June 9, 2025, Lancaster ISD/Lancaster, TX -- Lancaster ISD hosted its third annual Leadership Summit for district leadership personnel. The Boots and Brilliance Leadership Summit provided educators with the opportunity to evaluate their individual leadership styles while focusing on how effective and strategic leadership enhances their departmental and campus goals.
The three-d
ay summit, organized by Lancaster ISD’s Instructional Services team, brought together district leadership from all departments and campuses to discuss approaches and practices for leading successful schools and departments.
The summit began with meaningful book study conversations that challenged attendees to examine what it means to be an instructional leader.
“Our book studies challenged us to think beyond managing classrooms or compliance,” said Lancaster ISD Deputy Superintendent, Cassandra Barker. “They called us to mode
l what it means to be lead learners: coaching with purpose, confronting gaps with courage, and staying relentlessly focused on student growth.”
The summit then shifted from individual leadership to collective leadership and strategic planning. With the guidance of educational strategic leaders 806 Technologies, campus and district leadership teams utilized data to strategically align priorities while building systems that support sustainable progress.
“The goal for this summit was for our leaders to reflect on our current year’s academic success through collaborative conversations, while making data-driven decisions to create intentional strategic improvement plans for the upcoming school year,” said Lancaster ISD Academic Coordinator and Leadership Summit organizer, Walesha Robinson.
Attendees were also provided an opportunity to connect and strengthen professional relationships.
“To be more inclusive in our planning, we engaged in meaningful learning sessions that helped us gain insight into various roles and responsibilities from each department which will help us leverage the work that will strengthen us, as well as expose us to our greatest resource, which is one another,” said Robinson.
Those connections continued through the conclusion of the summit during a family reunion-styled cookout where district leaders competed to showcase their grill master skills. 
“When educational leaders have fun together, it builds trust, breaks down barriers and strengthens the heart of the district’s culture,” said George Washington Carver 6th Grade Center counselor Crystal Traylor. “Connection fuels collaboration.”
The fun and energy of the Leadership Summit didn’t stop in the sessions, it carried over into the inaugural cook-off competition on the final day. Participants fired up their grills and put their barbecue skills to the test, but only three walked away with summer bragging rights.
Leadership Summit Cook Off Winners
Best Chicken: Addison Russ, Barack & Michelle Obama 9th Grade Campus Principal
Best Brisket: Douglas Grace, Student Services
Best Ribs:Travis Anderson, Belt Line Elementary Principal
Without a doubt, the annual leadership summit was a successful event that left participants with valuable tools and empowerment to continue to focus with openness on the work that truly matters.