La Joya, TX – La Joya ISD’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) continued its 2025–26 professional learning series with a retreat facilitated by the ILO Group, focusing on strengthening leadership alignment and advancing the district’s Achieving Excellence Together 2030 Strategic Plan.
The retreat, led by Dr. Margaret Crespo, a veteran educator and executive leader, centered on building trust, clarifying roles, and creating a shared language for communicating the district’s priorities. Chiefs, deputy chiefs, executive directors, and directors engaged in a series of structured activities designed to reinforce collaboration and highlight the importance of interdependence across departments.
“Our goal was to reset and align around our Strategic Plan and our North Star,” said Superintendent Dr. Marcey Sorensen. “This work is about more than plans on paper, it’s about building coherence, strengthening leadership, and ensuring every student experiences instructional excellence every day.”
Participants engaged in interactive activities, including a rotating set of leadership challenges — from constructing card towers and bridges to designing a “district blueprint.” Each activity emphasized the theme of collective responsibility, with leaders required to build on each other’s progress.
“Excellence in leadership means picking up on tasks, work, and support for our campuses where others leave off,” Dr. Crespo told the group. “No single team can complete the work alone. Just like today’s challenges, the Strategic Plan requires trust, communication, and alignment across all Central Office Divisions and Departments.”
In addition, leaders completed a Strategic Plan Jigsaw, breaking into small groups to conduct deep dives into each of the plan’s five priorities:
● Excellence in Leadership
● Empowered Graduates
● Thriving Students
● Community Trust, Unity, and Partnership
● Operational Excellence and Financial Stability
Chief of Staff Joseph Niedziela highlighted the importance of role clarity in driving the work forward.
“One of the most powerful takeaways from this retreat was how leaders leaned into defining responsibilities and recognizing collective ownership,” Niedziela said. “When every department and team member is clear about what they own and where they depend on others, we create a system where progress is both shared and sustainable.”
The retreat closed with leaders practicing clear and consistent ways to communicate the district’s vision and priorities with staff, families, and the community. By leaving with a shared message and stronger sense of alignment, the Executive Leadership Team reinforced its commitment to ensuring the Strategic Plan comes to life for every student, every classroom, every day.
“As leaders, we have to speak with one voice,” Dr. Sorensen said. “Clear, consistent communication builds trust and unity, which are critical to the success of this plan.”
The ELT will continue meeting throughout the year to refine role profiles, finalize principal learning priorities, and monitor progress toward districtwide goals. Each session is designed to strengthen leadership capacity, foster accountability, and ensure the Strategic Plan is lived out in every school and every classroom for every student across La Joya ISD.