Lee County School District, Fort Myers, Florida

VISION AND LEADERSHIP:

The Transformation of Community

Gale Leadership Development LLC is pleased to have been a part of the contributing to the leadership, healing, and transformation of entire communities in behalf of creating new futures for themselves and for the people in those communities. We are currently working in Fort Myers, Florida, with the superintendent of schools and various community leaders. The following are comments from participants of the work there:

BRUCE HARTER, PH.D.,
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, FORT MYERS, FLORIDA

"This work provided an enormous power of recovery in our community. When I arrived in 1997, many in the community were in pain, over the loss of a popular school superintendent and under the cloud of a university study that found the community to be the most segregated in the South. The Challenge of Leadership has opened the door, for many people throughout the community, to forgiveness and healing as the capacity to create a new future."

---

LINDA TAYLOR, CHAIRPERSON, GOLDEN APPLE PROGRAM FORT MYERS, FLORIDA

"After participating in this course I have a better self-understanding and a new appreciation for the power of listening. With that, I am a more effective leader in my work as well as in my personal life. Having an opportunity to work with Amba Gale was a very meaningful experience."

---

TERRY EBERLE, EDITOR, FORT MYERS NEWS-PRESS LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS, FLORIDA

"It helped me better understand me, and by understanding myself better, I became a more focused, compassionate person. I now try, very hard, to take the time to listen to what others are saying and do not feel I have to find the answers to every problem. I learned that educators care about their profession and they want to improve education for everyone; from that one child who is constantly told he/she cannot learn, to the brightest over achiever. Working together, we can have quality schools. The three days out of the office were not a waste of time, but rather an investment in my future and an investment for the News-Press."

---

KATHY KLEIST, HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER, FORT MYERS

"The course put me back on track and provided me with missing tools. Through powerful communication profound things can happen, whether it is enriching relationships, empowering others, providing workability, or effecting action to take place. I have been reminded that I am part of the solution and can create possibilities that did not exist before. It was an incredible experience."

---

PRINCIPAL, LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS

"My children appear to be aware that I am paying closer attention, my husband definitely has noted a change in my willingness to listen to him. My employer is pleased with my enthusiasm and willingness to share this secret with our entire staff. Relationships have improved and walls have been knocked down."

---

COMMENTS FROM OTHER EDUCATORS IN THIS COMMUNITY:

• "This program could cause a lot of fences to be mended; it could cause a lot of healing to occur. Much needed."
• "This program will be of great benefit in our community. The deep understanding of self and our relation to others can bring a community together to accomplish most anything. Thanks!"
• "Everyone benefits because we all create files which hinder movement forward. That in itself gives people space to create as well as freeing them."
• "This fabulous course provided me the opportunity to focus on who I am and what I represent as a person. It has inspired me to make a difference in everything I say and do; to improve relationships that need improvement; cherish my children and husband as never before, and appreciate each day for what it has to offer, recognizing my contribution is significant."
• "We all get caught up in routines and lose sight of what's really important in life. We don't look at people as people; we don't listen or communicate effectively; we assume; we take things/people/health for granted."