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:
- Receive a framework for leading customer service for those you serve
- Learn about powerful systems for sustaining high-quality customer service
- Tangible exemplars such as Performance Management, Growth, Onboarding, and Communication Systems
- Enhance your understanding of the importance of customer service and how to leverage that in your complex role as an executive leader
- Gain ideas from a network of leaders who share how to operationalize a vision and mindset for customer service
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.
Four Virtual Sessions, 90-minute virtual sessions are scheduled at 2:00 pm ET
- January 20, 2027
- February 18, 2027
- March 4, 2027
- March 25, 2027
- April 8, 2027
- May 6, 2027
Pricing:
- Annual Individual Membership: $349
Registration for the 2026-27 cohort will open soon!
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.