Ryan Donlan, EdD, professor in the Department of Educational Leadership in the Bayh College of Education at Indiana State University, served for 20 years in traditional and charter schools in K–12 education—in teaching as well as school and district leadership. Ryan has taught for years at the college and university level in the areas of leadership, communication, and education.
Ryan is a member of various professional organizations and enjoys robust teaching, scholarship, and service, and has been awarded the Holmstedt Distinguished Professorship and the Faculty Distinguished Service Award.
Trenches story: 30 yrs in edu. Talks about ones dug for him. When he was principal, t walked in, they’d inherited a tradition about cannons being made in a metal/woodworking class. Cold clima
te, kids set off cannons w/ gunpowder. Blew holes in garage, others in building. He’s also had t’s in trouble w/ law. Had school also on marginalized list. Made differences about where it could go. Dug for self-said on PA he’s have the t’s car towed. Other things he’s done as idiot. Encouraged debate w/ music t. bought out parents. marathon trenches- those leveraging vs prioritizing. 1) his own convictions, board swung, became complicated 2) needed to get on board w/ community. Didn’t realize it was communities. 3) leveraged where others were in terms of their perspectives. Productive struggle. That’s what allowed him to crawl out of those.
Experience Charter school-as superintendent & director for 11 years. Has been at Univ. level for the last 12. In part, due to his convictions. Was 9 yrs into leadership. Constant drumbeat-reasons ppl would tell him what they couldn’t do something. Was also like that as Alternative Ed director. At this point, almost left education. Resourceful finance director invited him to graduation of charter school. Saw kids, met families, didn’t take think tank opportunity. Was for HS students who’d had difficulties in regular schools. Consortium protected the school & chartered it. Worked there 11 yrs. 2 county region boundaries. Helped him protect equity & access. Consensus-building models. College & career readiness. Has written about chartering being a superpower- helps those who needs it the most. Was collaboratively received by school superintendents.
Tell about the courses you teach-he teachers principal & superintendent-prep. Is there an increase of ppl going into the program? He’s finishing up 12th academic season at ISU. Had finished EdD. Knew leadership was his calling. Enrollment has remained pretty steady. Have in-person residency. Asynchronous instruction. Intentional for busy people at M.A. and Ed. S. level.St’s command of them, that they are relevant. Can talk about scholar-practictionership, esp at the Ph.D level. AP’s need something intentional. Best instructional leaders could be t’s. Allow t’s to inspire their own-collective efficacy. More space & time to APs to support teachers. All other duties as assigned for the AP new book by Solution Tree, they elevate his thinking. Teacher mattering. Pandemic made clear those who can and those who can’t. More realization of importance of t’s. Book shows the power of AP. He still is in schools, doing tech/curriculum assistance. Meets people who are “better & smarter” who he learns from. Univ. allows him to get things in head & heart out. He hopes that he’s a conduit. He’d love to be an AP, teacher or super.
Started Indiana Principal Leadership institute (all year long).They spent 2-3 days this week, cohort. In his 3rd year, Steve was sketching out conceptual model. State leveraged $ for PD, they got a hold of Ind. Assn. of School Principals, shared ideas w/ legislators. Idea to carry. 6 mos later legislators toured univ. Then IPLI was born. Whole year- principal’s leadership capacity. Year 2: School-focused capacity, w/ teacher leaders. Have had incredible presenters. Facilitate intense PD, also w/ Rhonda Rose from Solution Tree. If principals are in 1st yr, there’s another institute.
Todd Whitacher brought him to Indiana State, have written 3 books together. Todd Whitacker started presenting at the charter school. He applied to open position, Todd was at screening interview. Lo and behold, the Whitackers drove him back. Todd & wife are so giving of their time. Steve Grunert was dept chair. Steve Grunert, Todd & him taught same class. Each prof talked about his own way of doing things. They all talked about their own approach. Banter/friendship. Steve & him co-teach the program.(Todd left 6 yrs ago). They’ll be at ASCD next wk-both him & Steve.
Out of everything: Humbled to remind himself, each day we’re only as good as our next day’s best work Click To Tweet
Where can ppl find you online? He’s on Twitter @ryandonlan or website: www.ryanndonlan.com, google Indinana State Univ (insert his dept’s website)-reach out by phone. runs the dept.’s FB.
He complimented me on my interview skills. View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sSaaJv3Naf8
MORE EPISODES
