Customer service is your ESA’s strategic advantage!
In today’s educational landscape, exceptional customer service is more than a function — it is a strategic advantage. Service With Soul: Elevating ESA Customer Service is a learning lab designed for ESA executives and leadership teams who want to build stronger systems, cultivate a service-centered culture, and create meaningful experiences for both internal and external customers.
Through collaborative learning and practical application, participants will explore how customer service connects to leadership, organizational culture, communication, onboarding, growth, and performance management systems.
Key Benefits of Participating:
- Establish a shared understanding of excellent service across departments.
- Explore how communication, onboarding, employee growth, and performance management reinforce service expectations.
- Examine practical examples that can inform improvements within your ESA.
- Learn alongside ESA leaders working to make service more consistent.
Service with Soul, written by the facilitators, serves as a companion resource to support participants as they strengthen customer service systems, culture, and leadership practices within their ESA. Purchase of the book is not required.
Program Schedule:
All sessions are held virtually for 90 minutes each session. All sessions begin at 2:00 pm Eastern Time.
Optional In-Person Launch
Held in conjunction with the 2026 AESA Annual Conference & Expo
- December 2-4, 2026
Gain insight into the learning lab’s approach to building stronger customer service experiences across your ESA.
Six 90-minute virtual sessions are scheduled at 2:00 pm ET for the following:
- January 20, 2027
- February 18, 2027
- March 4, 2027
- March 25, 2027
- April 8, 2027
- May 6, 2027
Pricing:
- $449 per participant
Register for the 2026-27 Cohort!
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with peers, share strategies, and strengthen your ESA’s impact.
Meet the Facilitators:
Dr. Tanya Larkin
Executive Director, Region 16 ESC (TX)
Tanya Larkin’s career, spanning over three decades, embodies a customer service mindset rooted in trust, collaboration, and transformational leadership. From inspiring classroom excellence to leading transformative school improvements, her visionary approach turns challenges into opportunities. As Principal, Superintendent, and Executive Director of an education service agency, she forged innovative partnerships and nurtured stakeholder engagement. In addition, Dr. Larkin is a dynamic speaker, coach, author, and leadership development expert whose commitment to empowering communities and cultivating future leaders drives lasting positive change in organizations.
Dr. Nathan Maxwell
Deputy Executive Director, Region 16 ESC (TX)
Nathan Maxwell is an educator and leader passionate about fostering collaboration and exceptional service. As Deputy Executive Director, he draws from over a decade of experience as a superintendent, principal, and executive leader to enhance organizational effectiveness. With a passion for people, he transforms transactions into meaningful connections, inspires teams, and creates a lasting impact in education and beyond.