Superintendent Year 4: Begin Again
I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful summer! I took some intentional time away from blogging and social media so I could focus on two things: beginning my second year in the district, and experiencing my first summer and fall semester as superintendent here. It feels great to be back—and I am looking forward to encouraging all of us as we embark on a brand-new school year.
This summer was full of milestones: welcoming new board members, participating in leadership training and our annual retreat, and hosting my very first convocation in the district. One unique aspect of this role is having seven individuals serve as your supervisors—something I’m not sure many superintendents talk about openly. Navigating those relationships can be challenging if trust, transparency and relationships are not in place.
I have been blessed to work with strong, dedicated board members over the years, and I have learned that success comes from building individual relationships while uniting around a common goal as a Team of 8. Currently, I have seven trustees—all men—who are deeply passionate about our district’s success and supportive of the work we are leading together. The challenge—and opportunity—is to keep our focus solely on student success, resisting the urge to listen to the noise and distractions that do not serve our students.
One way we are working to stay aligned is through the completion of our strategic plan. This process, led by the board in collaboration with our executive leadership team, has helped us remove distractions and improve coherence across the district. It will serve as our roadmap, guiding the work not just of the board, but of our faculty, staff, and community.
And then came convocation—my first here! It was truly epic, a moment that brought last year’s work into focus for the year ahead. We were able to connect the strategic plan to our launch of the school year, setting clear expectations and a shared vision. I closed with a reminder of the HOPE we carry into this work:
H – Help one another along the journey.
O – Opportunity: use every chance you get to make a positive difference.
P – Protect our district—our students, staff, and one another.
E – Encourage one another; you never know who needs it on this educational journey.
As we begin this new school year, remember: you have a fresh opportunity to make a lasting impact on lives and generations to come. Our work is important, and it truly matters. I’m honored to be on this journey with you. Let’s continue to #InspireExcellence.
