In this Director’s Cut episode, we sit down with Fort Worth ISD Director of Athletics Dr. Lisa Langston as she shares insights from 36 years in education, her experience in professional development, and her perspective on leadership, reflection, mentorship, and the future of Texas interscholastic athletics.
Drawing from her career in Fort Worth ISD, her time playing professional basketball in Germany, and her service as past president of the NIAAA, Langston discusses the importance of intentional growth and helping others develop into effective leaders. Throughout her career, Langston has emphasized the value of understanding how adults learn, creating opportunities for reflection, and building leadership capacity throughout an organization.
In this episode, she discusses:
- Why adult learners are most effective when they have ownership over what they learn
- Why reflection is an essential part of professional development and how leaders can turn new knowledge into meaningful action
- The role of a leader in helping others process challenges through active listening and thoughtful questions
- How intentional mentorship and identifying aspiring leaders can help build capacity across a large school district
- Why annual reflection and setting personal professional goals are important for continued growth
- The importance of aligning an athletic department’s goals and vision with the broader mission established by district leadership
- How athletic leaders can maintain autonomy and pursue innovation while still supporting the goals of their executive leadership
- The importance of protecting Texas’ strong interscholastic athletics model and continuing to invest in long-term leadership and capacity development
The insights from this conversation provide a thoughtful look at leadership development and the responsibility athletic administrators have to continually grow while helping others do the same. Langston emphasizes that professional development is more than attending a conference or gaining new information. It requires reflection, intentionality, and application.
Special thanks to Certor Sports for helping make this Director’s Cut conversation possible. Through their commitment to developing high-quality sports equipment and protective gear, Certor Sports supports both athletes and the coaches/administrators who help them reach their potential.
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