Page 15 - The EDGE Spring 2020

LEADERSHIP

BY LINDA VIRGIL
Here’s How to Become a Mindful Leader

Linda Virgil

Stepping into a leadership role is often considered one of our doors the opportunity to engage in a comprehensive
the most challenging roles we take on in life. It requires a learning experience and prepare them for college and career
multitude of skills, and the desire and commitment to want readiness and allowing them to fulfill their potential in a safe,
to make a change. healthy and inviting environment. We’re maintaining and
adhering to effective policies and practices and establishing
My experience in education finance spans 24 years, starting accountability for district resources. We’re actively engaged
in 1996 in the UK at a rural elementary school of 280 students in encouraging and strengthening parent and community
in the age range of 4 to 11 years. This is where my leadership partnerships across all aspects of our strategic plan.
journey began – as part of the senior leadership team we took
our school through many changes, often being first in our
field. These experiences served me well when I began my
career here in the U.S. in 2010 at Peoria USD, fourth largest
school district in Arizona serving around 37,000 students in
grades K through 12.

In 2010, I started as an Accountant and immersed myself
in the learning opportunities offered through AASBO –
accounting, school management and finance, purchasing.
food service operations, etc.

In 2014, I became an Accounting Supervisor – this position
proved to be an invaluable learning opportunity helping to
further develop my leadership skills. As my learning and experiences grow in becoming an
effective and successful leader, I find myself engaging more
Then in 2016, I was promoted to Grant Manager, a position and more in the art of Mindfulness. The environment in which
that included interaction with directors, executive directors we all work is ever evolving, including budget constraints –
and outside agencies – building my skill set in my search for new initiatives – goal setting – policy requirements - federal
more. and state regulations. Practicing the art of Mindfulness
places us in the moment, it helps us be present in our lives
And in 2018, I became Director of Accounting. It was an and experiences just as they are and not how we imagined
opportunity to be part of the change, leading our district into or wished they would be. It helps us cultivate focus, clarity,
the future, promoting and focusing on our strategic plan, creativity and compassion.

It was at this time that I was also elected to the position of I like to compare the Mindfulness movement to the United
Director of Business Administration for AASBO. Kingdom’s Investor in People accreditation a prestigious
award that my rural elementary school received. It provided
My goal is to lead my team to understand that while we a continuous improvement framework and benchmark for
are not in the classroom having direct interaction with our what we established as a well-run organization, it focused on
student population, everything that we do is integral to their the vision and purpose, and the strategy and long-term plan.
success and to the strategic plan and mission of the district. As I review the goals and objectives of both organizations it
We’re working alongside each teacher, support staff member, comes to mind that while worlds apart, they are not dissimilar.
and administrator, to give every student who comes through CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

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