Executive coaching facilitates the growth of school leaders by providing dedicated time and a supportive environment for reflection, planning, and accountability. In this confidential and judgment-free space, leaders can address challenges, collaborate on strategies, and work with a committed thought partner to enhance their effectiveness and growth in their leadership roles.

An executive coaching engagement typically starts with a reflection on the leader’s strengths, growth areas, vision, and personal goals. The coach then engages the leader in monthly one-on-one coaching conversations that empower the leader to cultivate new perspectives, skills, and leadership behaviors.

Executive coaching is distinctly different from formal job training, mentoring, consulting, and performance management. Executive coaches are not mentors that tell leaders how to do their job. Instead, a coach asks questions that help the leader discover new possibilities and develop solutions that will work for the leader’s unique circumstances and personality. A coach serves as a thought partner during the leader’s toughest moments, and an accountability partner to keep that leader on their path to greatness. Through this collaborative and personalized approach to leadership development, leaders and their schools will achieve more than they thought possible.

We are seeking candidates who have a passion for strengthening Adventist education by cultivating visionary and strategic school leaders through executive coaching. Applicants should have a minimum of 3-years’ experience in an executive-level leadership position, with demonstrated success in articulating a vision, building a team, shaping organizational culture, employing data to improve decision-making, and a deep understanding of the SDA education system.

Ideal coach candidates: 

• Have successful experience as an executive-level leader and understand the behaviors and mindsets that executive leadership entails, regardless of industry or sector.

• Embrace a growth mindset in their own personal development.

• Have a desire to help other leaders succeed.

• Are willing to become proficient in a variety of virtual tools that are critical for long-distance learning and coaching engagements (e.g., using a virtual classroom space, video-conferencing and online document-sharing platforms).

• Are committed to an equity mindset – ensuring that every single student has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of race or any other identity factors.

• Have the personal capacity to fully commit to the rigor of the program, which includes attending all coach training sessions (virtual and in-person) and holding regular one-on-one sessions with their coachees.

Training to become an Executive Coach is an incredibly rewarding experience for individuals interested in becoming even stronger and more effective leaders. Participating in the training cohort allows leaders to network with a diverse group of experienced leaders from throughout the system. Executive Coaching is a powerful way to support others while growing professionally and personally as a thought leader.

And learn how to:

• Use listening and questioning to promote extended dialogue and generate insight

• Provide constructive and effective feedback

• Cultivate a culture of intentional reflection

• Establish a foundation for equity

• Effectively confront racial inequities to enhance school culture and ensure equitable learning environments

• Create a supportive, challenging and safe learning environment

Completing the training curriculum results in up to 80 CEU credits, as well as the opportunity to become certified as an executive coach. Some coaches have leveraged the training they received through the program to build successful coaching practices and further broaden their leadership impact.

Our Executive Coach training program has been designed by a team of executive coaching experts and Adventist education leaders specifically for Adventist education leaders. The program utilizes a combination of in-person learning intensives with monthly virtual learning sessions during which time participants are provided rich and in-depth training by experts in the field of education and executive coaching. Additionally, each participant is given the opportunity to practice and refine their coaching abilities by being paired with up to 2 active Adventist school leaders interested in receiving Executive Coaching. Each executive coach cohort and individual coach is supported each step of the way by a mentor coach, regular learning sessions, and a library of resources and best practices.

In order to maintain the integrity of the Executive Coach Training program, the number of participants is limited within each cohort. To determine which participants are selected to be a part of the cohort, there is a multi-step application process.

1) Submit an application and updated resumé to ACE Academy for review.

2) A recommendation form will then be sent to their superintendent, who must then complete and submit it. 

3) Applications are reviewed by the ACE leadership team on a rolling basis. 

4) Select applicants will be invited to a virtual interview with the ACE leadership team. 

5) Selected candidates will receive a formal invitation to the program and sign a participation agreement. 

The two-year training cycle lasts from July 2024-2026. Coaches who are accepted into the program are required to participate in a summer intensive as well as about 5-6 hours of training and/or active coaching per month. This includes:

In-Person ACE Executive Coach Summer Intensives:

• Four days, July 15-18, 2024, location TBD

• Two days, July 2025, Dates and location TBD

Monthly virtual learning sessions on the third Thursday of each month from 1-4pm EST with the full coaching cohort

Monthly one-hour virtual coaching sessions with each coaching “client” (ACE Academy will assign 2-3 school leaders for you to coach each month for the two-year period). These coaching sessions will be confidentially recorded for further growth and development as you progress through the coaching program.

One-hour calls with your own mentor coach every other month.

The 2-year Executive Coaching program costs approximately $30,000 to facilitate for each participant. Thanks to the generous support of the Bainum Family Foundation, the Executive Coaching Program is offered to selected cohort participants at no cost. All costs for trainings, materials, and online resources are provided at no cost to the participant.

Conferences (and/or Unions) are expected to cover the travel, lodging, and per diem costs for Executive Coaching participants for the in-person summer learning sessions.

• Communication Assistance - For ease of communication during the recruiting period, we ask that Unions & Conferences send us their principal contact lists. This information is not shared or used for any other purpose than to send principals program materials directly and introduce them to the coaching program. As principals respond, we will follow up with them directly to assist them in the application and interview process. We have found this method of directly reaching out to leaders has vastly improved their interest and engagement in the program, and it ensures that all leaders across the NAD have equal access to the opportunity. We also encourage both superintendents and union leaders to assist in recruitment efforts by sharing program information with their principals and encouraging participation when appropriate. We have found superintendents are most in touch with which leaders would value and enjoy executive coaching, and which leaders may be well-suited to become an executive coach themselves. Superintendents at the Union and Conference levels are welcome to apply to a part of the coaching program as well!

• CEU Credit Support – We ask that Unions with participating cohort members allow ACE Academy to submit CEU hours related to the time spent receiving instruction and practicing coaching to count towards CEU credit. As the coach completes their training, we will provide Union offices with a log of hours to be recorded. Union leaders will be asked to complete an agreement regarding CEU arrangements.

• Participant Travel Expenses – ACE Academy covers all training-related expenses for participating in the program. This amounts to approximately $30,000 in tuition expenses over the course of the two-year program. Conferences (and/or Unions) are expected to cover the travel, lodging, and per diem expenses of any participants for the required in-person summer sessions. This agreement must be arranged prior to an applicant be accepted into the coaching program

• Potential Venue Support – Depending on which Unions have participants in the program, ACE Academy may reach out to explore the opportunity to host a multiday summer intensive at the Union headquarters.

While we appreciate that there might be interest in having all of a Union’s principals participate in the coaching program, we have found the best results come when leaders self-select this opportunity. Coaching works best to support leaders who are already effective – moving them from good to great or empowering them with greater impact and responsibility. Our coaching methodology is not suited for remedial or corrective leadership conflicts. Our goal in coaching is to create greater support, engagement, and retention around our great leaders in the system and ensure they are getting personalized development.

We encourage Unions & Conferences to send us your principal contact list so that we can send out a general invitation as well as follow up with the application deadline. Emails and points of contact will be used for no other purpose. If there are specific leaders within your Union you would uniquely like to have pursue this opportunity, please personally encourage them to submit the application and reach out to us directly if they have questions.

Union and Conference Superintendents themselves are encouraged and welcome to apply to join the training cohort as well.

ACE Academy’s Executive Coaching program has been carefully developed by a team of individuals with a variety of experiences and expertise in working with the Seventh-day Adventist education system. Together with experts in the field of Executive Coaching, we have crafted a set of Executive Coaching Competencies that will not only prepare participants to become effective coaches, but also better leaders in their own roles within the system.

It’s difficult to recognize the prevalence of inequities in our education system, even in our faith-based schools. Society at-large grapples to find the language and strategies to overcome such complex challenges that are deeply embedded in our education practices and create obstacles for students’ success in school and life. 

Our goal is to help empower leaders with both the skills and the personal mindset to identify where inequities are occurring and how to address them. We believe this is a critical skillset for executive leaders like principals. These conversations can be challenging, and ACE Academy helps Coaches practice exploring these dynamics in a safe space and learn how to coach with an equity mindset so they can model this executive skill for the leader they are coaching. 

Because racial equity is a critical discussion happening across the nation, the Executive Coaching program examines equity most often through this lens. However, we understand that this is just one facet of a larger, important vision for ensuring equity in schools. We hope leaders will apply their learnings and skills to examine all types of inequities that may prevent children from reaching their potential, including those related to socioeconomic status, gender, or any other circumstance/characteristic. 

ACE (Advancing Christian Education) Academy is an initiative of the Bainum Family Foundation recognizing the support and commitment of its founders, Stewart Bainum Sr. and Jane Bainum, to Adventist Education. ACE Academy brings together creative minds and passionate educators in the field to create new solutions for growing school leaders. We are on a mission to support the future of Adventist K-12 education by equipping and empowering school leaders with tools to effectively meet the challenges facing today’s schools. The vision for ACE Academy starts with our vision for school principals: Joy-filled, well-equipped, and well-supported change makers.

ACE Academy has been providing Executive Coach training for 4 years in the Columbia Union Conference and 2 years in the Southern Union Conference. Now beginning its 3rd cohort of Executive Coaches, ACE Academy has trained nearly fifty Adventist education leaders in how to provide executive coaching for other school leaders throughout the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Our previous cohorts have included active principals, vice principals, and both Conference and Union superintendents.