Superintendent's Leadership Retreat
Collaborating with Purpose. Leading for Excellence.
About the Superintendent’s Leadership Retreat
The Superintendent’s Leadership Retreat brings together the Richmond County School System central office and Principal Advisory team to maximize our collective impact. Over two collaborative days, leaders will analyze feedback, streamline district workflows, and design responsive, practical solutions that directly amplify our strategic plan and elevate performance across all of our schools.
Our Focus Areas
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Cultivating High-Value Support: Strengthening the partnership between central office and school leaders to ensure every campus has the responsive resources needed to meet its goals.
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Data-Informed Improvement: Reviewing feedback from our school communities to optimize organizational efficiency and remove barriers to student success.
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Coherence & Accountability: Aligning our collaborative action plans directly with the targets of the RCSS Strategic Plan to guarantee measurable, system-wide results.
A Message from Dr. Cobb
Dear Richmond County School System Leaders,
Welcome to our annual Superintendent’s Leadership Retreat. This gathering is a dedicated space for us to step away from daily operations and focus on the collective impact we have on our students. Our goal is simple: to ensure every school receives high-value, coherent support that translates into excellence. Success is not achieved in isolation, and this retreat is designed to strengthen the collaborative bonds that drive our systemic growth.
As we navigate our shared path, I encourage you to lean into discussions with a spirit of openness and strategic purpose. Let us explore new frameworks for stewardship, refine our leadership toolkits, and recommit to being the steady guides our schools deserve. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our students and for the leadership you bring to the Richmond County School System.
Malinda Cobb, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Richmond County Schools
Your Facilitation Team
Great organizations are built on collaborative leadership. RCSS has partnered with GLISI to facilitate these conversations, allowing district leadership to step out of the facilitator role and engage fully as active co-learners. Together, we will unlock your team’s collective expertise and turn strategic insights into practical, everyday action for Richmond County schools.
Dr. Leslie Hazel Bussey
CEO & Executive Director, GLISI
Leslie Hazle Bussey, Ph.D., is the CEO and Executive Director of GLISI, where she leads a team dedicated to uplifting school leaders, transforming organizational cultures, and building equitable schools. Serving over 1,500 leaders annually across Georgia, Leslie brings a human-centered, adaptive approach to leadership development that challenges the status quo. Her 25-year career in education ranges from teaching middle school in Zambia to leading regional leadership research at SREB. Leslie holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University.
Dr. Terri Seay Bryant
Head of Organizational Development, GLISI
Terri Seay Bryant, Ph.D., is the Head of Organizational Development at GLISI, where she leads efforts to build more effective, resilient, and human-centered organizations. Partnering with leaders across various industries, Terri brings a systems-thinking approach to change management that rejects quick fixes to ensure both people and performance thrive. Her 20-year career is defined by designing holistic experiences that empower teams to tackle complex challenges and foster a culture of continuous growth. An American Express NGen Fellow and graduate of the Learning Forward Academy, Terri holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Mercer University.
Dr. Meca Mohammad
Chief People & Culture Officer, GLISI
Meca B. Mohammed, Ph.D., is the Chief People and Culture Officer at GLISI, where she leverages deep expertise in organizational behavior and data analytics to drive strategy and advance the mission. Overseeing a broad range of functional operations since 2011, Meca focuses on maximizing impact by understanding what motivates people to grow, change, and find purpose. Her work is defined by a relentless commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces, playing a pivotal role in shaping GLISI’s Equity Commitments, wellbeing pillars, and organizational culture. Meca holds a doctorate in Educational Administration and Policy, with a concentration in nonprofit management, from the University of Georgia.
Tracey Lucas
Business Office Manager, GLISI
Tracey Lucas is the Business Operations Manager at GLISI, where she oversees the critical operational workflows and administrative systems that keep the organization running seamlessly. Partnering closely with the leadership team, Tracey ensures that GLISI's day-to-day business operations are efficient, sustainable, and fully aligned with its mission to support school leaders.
Tony Pickett
Executive Leadership Coach, GLISI
Tony Pickett is a Consultant at GLISI, bringing over 35 years of deep expertise as a former teacher and district administrator in Georgia. Since joining GLISI in 2020, Tony leverages his extensive background across curriculum development, school safety, legal compliance, and strategic planning to support system improvement. His distinguished career in public education includes serving as a CTAE teacher for Rockdale County Schools, followed by leadership roles in Henry County Schools as CTAE Coordinator, Director of Administrative Services, and Assistant to the Superintendent. Tony holds an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of West Georgia.
Jolie Hardin
Executive Leadership Coach, GLISI
Jolie Hardin, Ed.D., is a Consultant at GLISI, bringing 28 years of deep expertise in school leadership, leadership development, and human resources. Since joining GLISI in 2022, Jolie leverages her extensive background to design and support impactful adult growth experiences across Georgia districts. Her distinguished career includes serving as a principal, assistant principal, teacher, and coach, as well as holding executive roles as Executive Director of Human Resources and Director of Leadership Development for Henry County Schools. An NAESP-National Certified Principal Mentor and a board member for Leadership Henry, Jolie holds a doctorate in Leadership from Argosy University.