I would like you to complete the assignment with the information listed. You will need to develop 20 - 24 interview questions. Leader Interview Assignment Learning from others’ successes and challenge

Name of interviewee: Brian Stockton Assistant Commissioner, District Operations 

Leader Interview Assignment Learning from others’ successes and challenges is as old as humankind. This course asks you to arrange 1 leader interview of a community leader who is leading a team or an organization remotely. Currently of national emergencies and overall changes in the workplace, the ability to lead remotely is a critical skill set. Questions for that interview are to be developed by you based on your textbook concepts, extra readings I assign, and suggestions from your classmates’ interview discussion board. Remember this is an interview about leadership. A prepared question bank of at least 20 – 24 questions is suggested, though you may choose not to use some. It is expected that you will follow-up with good question discussion with your interviewee, just as a journalist might. Don’t just stick to the “script” when an interesting comment might bring additional insight.

Requirements: The written interview assignment will include a cover page, and your preapproved/graded question set listed on the second page. The third page begins the interview write-up. You will describe this person’s profession, educational background, and why you selected them. You will then craft their responses into a narrative, closing with at least a paragraph about what you learned about leadership from this person. Please use 12-point font and double space. Such papers usually run about 5 pages.

Brian Stockton’s cover letter and resume to complete the assignment:

I am a dedicated Executive Leader and Leadership Facilitator with more than 15 years of experience creating proven positive organizational change and implementing innovative financial and business strategies. I have experience coaching leaders, managing budgets up to $1.5 billion as well as managing multiple large-scale projects for more than 14,000 staff while at the same time increasing organizational morale.

I am adept at developing leadership and organizational change programs for c-suite leaders down to front line management. I am recognized as a leader who creates a continuous improvement culture of change that will be perceived by employees as a valuable opportunity instead of something negative to worry about and resist. I can also affect financial turnaround using my business and financial acumen, which in turn benefits the organization and employees.

As my resume details, my accomplishments include –

• Developed and facilitated leadership programs on over 28 leadership competencies, proven to increase acumen of organizational leaders

• Improved management and operations strategy at Serco by advising and coaching 400 front-line leaders nationwide on best practices including transformational change, business execution, delegation, and trust

• Reduced company attrition at Serco from 30% to 12% in one year, leading the company to rank 39th on Forbes list of Best Company to Work for, via my programs

• Won Serco’s National and Global Award for creation of culture changing leadership programs

• Lead an $88 million school district financial turnaround by identifying and implementing cost-effective strategies to reinvent fund allocation, contract negotiations, and district budgeting

• Used surplus from financial turnaround to increase all hourly school district employees wage to $15 an hour, the first large employer to do so in the City of Memphis

• Created first ever school district leadership program for director-level and high potentials employees

• Increased school district minority spending from 3% to 32% by cultivating an inclusive culture to encourage stronger involvement from Latino and Black businesses

I look forward to meeting with you to further discuss the Bold Center Director position and the contributions I can make. Until then, I can be reached at the number listed on my resume.

Thank you for the consideration.

Sincerely,

Brian Stockton

Assistant Commissioner, District Operations

Tennessee Dept. of Education - Nashville, TN September 2019 – Present

• Oversee the development and implementation of district and school plans as required by state and federal rules and laws for nutrition, safety, and transportation programs

• Develop and implement of robust monitoring and compliance review processes, including desktop monitoring and site visits to ensure fidelity of implementation

• Manage oversight of fiscal operations and grants management, including both state and federal funds

• Established Key Performance Indicators for all operating departments. Introduced numerous managerial/ operational improvements including computerized production of backlog reports, staff cross training and resource redeployment

• Conducted internal audits to identify systemic problems. Personally visited and evaluated majority of programs eliminating poor performers. Assigned accountability to each Director for quality and to ensure adherence to new standards and policies

• Designed and coordinated with system team to build the RIP (Risk in Process) tool used as a repository for reporting, tracking and resolving items of risk

Chief of Staff

Shelby County School – Memphis, TN February 2016 – June 2019

• Executive leader for the nation’s 25th largest school district with 110,000 students, 170 schools, 14,500 employees and a budget of $1.5 billion

• Spearhead and lead $88 million financial turnaround in 2016

  • First Surplus in 6 years

  • Shepherd the building of 2 new 21st century schools

  • Lead to the first raises for teachers in 5 years and raises for non-instructional employees in 10 years

  • Increased minimum wage for hourly employees to $15 an hour

• Acted as Superintendent in Superintendent’s absence

• Liaison to the Shelby County School Board to resolve constituency matters

• Initiated purchased of New Headquarter Building consolidating 15 offices into 1

• Initiated the creation of the District’s first Academic Plan in over 10 years, leading to the removal 12 schools off of the State’s bottom 10% list

• Developed and manage the district’s second innovation school and turnaround program (Empowerment Zone) *Similar to I-Zone, which consistently out performs state-managed schools

• Presided over 3 flawless school openings starting in 2016

• Liaison to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on $90 Million Gates Grant

Leadership & Organizational March 2014 – February 2016

Development Analyst

Serco Americas

• Key Partner with CEO and C-Suite executives to implement targeted programs to stem attrition and increase engagement (Cut attrition by 12% in one year)

• Responsible for all Leadership and Organizational Development from Strategy to implementation

• Advisor and Coach to 400 front line and key leaders across North America Enterprise

• Subject Matter Expert on over 28 leadership and relationship building competencies

• Won Company National and Global Award for creation and implemented of a culture changing leadership program

• Major role in helping Serco rank 39th on the Forbes list of best companies to work

• Lead overall direction and management of all custom training engagements with ABA member banks

• Performed thorough Clients Training Needs assessment to understand Client’s Business Objectives, define project scope, and recommend the best delivery method for the training engagement

• Proposal and Project Management Lead on Habitat for Humanity Mortgage Compliance Training Initiative *Implemented E-learning training for over 4500 users Nation-wide

• Produce National Webinars to keep ABA members abreast of top issues facing banks *Co-Produced Webinar with United States Treasury

• Project managed $150k Custom Commercial Lending Training Course to switch lenders from EBITA to UCA Cash Flow model

Vice-President, UniverCiti October 2007 – July 2012

Citibank North America

• Provide superior instruction and facilitation to ensure a high quality delivery of Leadership, Sales, Small Business, Commercial Credit and Retail Curriculums

• Consistently ranked 2nd out of 80 Trainer/Coaches nationally via Level One Evaluations from participants

• Effectively engaged participants with conversational delivery to ensure a high level of comprehensive

• Oversaw production of training content, including instructor-led training, web-based training, job aids and quick reference materials for Siebel rollout project to Commercial Banking Unit Nationwide

Senior Relationship Manager March 2003 – September 2006

• Managed 12 Major Client Accounts to ensure account growth and great service.

• Dotted line responsibility for the Client Development Executives to navigate client project and trainings.

• Led a team of five Client Training Executives offering training and support on Reuters Trading products

• Provided updates and training on product enhancements to training executives

• Coordinated nationwide training efforts with clients such as Fannie Mae and Susquehanna

• BA, Journalism, Howard University

• Management Certificate, Georgetown University, School of Professional Development

• Graduate of National Superintendents Academy