Being relatively new to Human Resources, it has been infinitely valuable to partner with the entire team at CESO on everything from standard workflow process to negotiations strategy. Their passion for developing world-class organizations comes through in everything they touch. 

As a woman, I’m deeply grateful to have had a strong female mentor from CESO like Elizabeth Linares. I never doubted the possibility of my leadership because of her. It was with Elizabeth that I first learned to skillfully engage in difficult conversations, facilitate groups, and respond well to different perspectives. She is one of the few people I’ve met who naturally approaches coaching through a relationship of reciprocity: she not only guided my growth in areas of weakness but also appreciated and learned from what she saw as my strengths.

As an HR director working in a school environment, our employment environment is unique combining equal parts of creativity, compliance and compassion.  We must do everything we can to get the best people in front of our kids and our community stakeholders while operating efficiently, effectively and transparently. We also collaborate with multiple internal and external stakeholders which means identifying data that can tell our district's own unique operational story.  CESO has enabled us to improve workflows and operate strategically making our district a more effective operational partner.

Coaching conversations with CESO always seem to hit at just the right time when I need to get my head out of the weeds to think about the things that energize me about my work.  The advice and perspective shared have been so helpful! 

Bob McDowell has been a resource for both information and thought partnership. He and his team have found immeasurable ways to help support hard-to-fill positions as well as ways to optimize systems within my school district. I have appreciated the thoughtfulness and overall approach - it feels like a partnership.

CESO is refreshing. They have a deep bench of expertise without a canned approach or set of specific products to sell. Dr. McDowell is a perfect example - he’s a former superintendent who listens deeply and then helps you find spot-on tools or processes to address your needs. He’s action-oriented, alignment-driven, and ultimately practical. After spending some focused time with him, I invariably walk away feeling energized and better equipped to tackle the thorniest issues.

Bob McDowell has a natural ability to bring people together and tap into people’s strengths as leaders. He recognized what our leadership gifts were, effectively posed reflective questions, and provided direction when needed to empower us as leaders to get our teams moving in the right direction. As a leadership coach, I can’t think of anyone who has been more influential in my leadership career.

We recently reorganized our district's leadership structure to address service gaps and increase current employee capacity. CESO has been an exceptional partner in developing professional capacity for us, especially as a department with three new members who have less than seven years of collective HR experience. CESO managed RFPs for insurance brokers, employee investigations, recruitment efforts, benefits, job descriptions and pay band reviews. Our team works weekly with a friendly and knowledgeable CESO team member on process, customer service, and continuous improvement. We're learning how to self-evaluate, develop new strategies, and take innovative risks with confidence. Many of those "someday" projects are getting attention and action now as a result of their support. The exceptional service and professional development that CESO has provided assures that we are in a better place for the future.

As a school leader, I am always thinking about three types of development - day-to-day professional development, deeper personal development, and deeper professional development. Elizabeth Linares skillfully and intentionally balances that deeper professional development with the deeper personal development that I need as a principal. She has a true gift of coaching me as a full human while also pushing me to be a more effective, wholehearted leader. If you want grace and accountability in action, then Elizabeth is your person.