LFM Academy  

• Formulate and articulate a collective and individual equity-minded leadership identity

• Map the connection and relationship among institutional needs, effective leadership, and equitable student success

• Create sustainable professional relationships in which peers share ideas 

• Identify data, research, and other forms of evidence to spark courageous and explicit conversations to inform and prioritize transformative institutional changes that address systemic racism and social inequities

• Apply data, research, and other forms of evidence to make informed decisions that advance transformative change efforts toward more equitable outcomes at the participant’s institution

• Identify ways to measure a change in achievement and equity gaps

• Develop strategies to sustain and support their ongoing leadership development

• Identify a project aligned with their college’s strategic priorities that advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism work at their institution

• Implement or continue to advance an identified project

• Create a sustainability plan for the project to continue after the conclusion of LFM

• Increase the number of middle leaders with the necessary skills to create the changes to redress systemic barriers and empower historically marginalized students to realize their educational goals.

• Advance a strategic priority that increases equitable student success and/or institutional transformation.

Leading from the Middle Academy I

• February 7, 2025, 10:00 am–1:00 pm | Virtual Academy kick-off

• Early February through mid-April 2025 | Virtual Onboarding; monthly meetings with LFM Coach

• May 1–3, 2025 | In-person convening

• September 19–21, 2025 | In-person convening

• March 5–7, 2026 | In-person convening

• March–April 2026 | Sustainability planning (virtual); monthly meetings with LFM Coach

• April 24, 2026, 10:00 am–1:00 pm | Virtual end-of-Academy convening

Leading from the Middle Academy II

• February 21, 2025, 10:00 am–1:00 pm | Virtual Academy kick-off

• Mid-February through April 2025| Virtual Onboarding; monthly meetings with LFM Coach

• May 15–17, 2025 | In-person convening

• October 2–4, 2025 | In-person convening

• March 19–21, 2026 | In-person convening

• Mid-March through early May 2026 | Sustainability planning (virtual); monthly meetings with LFM Coach

• May 8, 2026, 10:00 am–1:00 pm | Virtual end-of-Academy convening

The cost per college team (up to 6 team members) is $6,000. This fee includes the following:

• An LFM coach who will work with your college for the duration of the program (15 months)

• In-person and synchronous facilitation during all activities

• Tools and resources

• Accommodations and meals at the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA, for all three in-person convenings

Your college will be responsible for your team’s travel costs to/from the Mission Inn. 

If the Academy fee prohibits your college from participating, please contact Ireri Valenzuela, Director of the Leading from the Middle Program, at professionaldevelopment@rpgroup.org.

To be considered for one of two LFM Statewide Academies for 2025–26, please identify a team lead who will complete and submit the application on behalf of your team. In addition, teams will need to attach a Letter of Support signed by a sponsoring administrator. A sponsoring administrator should be the appropriate high-level administrator (vice president, college president, and/or department dean), depending on your team’s project, scope, and focus.

We highly encourage colleges to send diverse teams, including members from various positions and areas within the college, such as adjunct/tenured and counseling faculty, administrators, classified professionals, and institutional researchers. Other considerations might include individuals from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and individuals with different gender identities and expressions. LFM teams are limited to six members for in-person convenings. Please contact us at professionaldevelopment@rpgroup.org if you need guidance with team selection.

Application Due Date

Although the initial application deadline has passed, we encourage you to consider applying if you are interested in joining this inspiring community of leaders. Please reach out to Ireri Valenzuela the director of LFM at ivalenzuela@rpgroup.org with any questions.

Application Checklist

• Completed application form

• Letter of Support

• Project Description. Please note: the project must be in alignment with the CCCCO Vision 2030 priorities (these are listed in the application).

• Ensure team members have reviewed the application and Academy schedule and are committed to attending the in-person convenings and actively participating in all other Academy activities.

To Apply: Complete the 2025–26 application form. If you would like to plan for your application using a paper version of the form as a reference, you can download a PDF copy.

Q: Is participation in all components of the academy required?

A: Yes, full participation in all components of the Academy is mandatory. This includes the virtual kick-off, onboarding meetings, in-person and virtual convenings, sustainability planning sessions, and the closing virtual convening. While we understand that conflicts may occur, we strongly encourage participants to prioritize attendance at all scheduled events. Completion certificates will be awarded to those who meet these commitments.

Q: Will there be a Zoom option if I cannot attend an in-person convening?

A: Unfortunately, no. We previously attempted to provide a Zoom option for those unable to attend in person, but managing both in-person and virtual participants impacted the overall experience for everyone. However, some college teams have successfully included remote team members via Zoom during team-specific activities.

Q: Is there an additional time commitment outside of scheduled academy meetings and convenings?

A: Absolutely. To maximize the impact of the program, participating teams are expected to dedicate time outside of LFM activities to advance their projects and complete academy assignments. This commitment is crucial for your team’s success.

Q: Do I need to stay at the convening venue?

A: We strongly recommend staying at the convening venue. Some of the most impactful conversations and community building occur in the evenings, often over informal gatherings. These moments can be just as valuable as the scheduled sessions. However, the choice of where to stay is ultimately yours.

Q: Can we have different people, not from the original team, attend the convenings?

A: We highly discourage changing team membership once the academy begins. Doing so can disrupt both your college’s team dynamics and the overall flow of the LFM academy. Continuity within your team is crucial for maintaining a cohesive and effective learning experience.

We are honored that 83 of the 116 California community colleges have participated in Leading from the Middle (LFM) between 2013 (LFM’s inception) and 2024. One hundred and seventy teams have completed the program, with over 1,000 instructional and counseling faculty, mid-level administrators, classified staff, and institutional researchers from these colleges completing at least one LFM academy. In 2019 and 2020, LFM offered a customized program for the Guided Pathways Regional Coordinators. LFM colleges included (click here for a full list of colleges).