I love it when parents ask..."how is your summer" or "how is your vacation"...I just have to laugh. What summer? What vacation? An administrator's work is never done. But I'm not complaining. I love what I do.
At the heart of my work, I'm a learner. Each and every day. I liken my job to my first year of teaching. New starts. Exciting opportunities. Challenges abound, yet with a role in leadership, it is often working with others to explore solutions and work through them as a collaborative team.
Each year as a teacher, I got better and better. By the time I finished teaching and moved into a role as an Assistant Principal, I thought I had it all figured out. I'm sure many teachers and administrators can relate to that.....I've got it. I'm good at this. But I have to say, more often than not, as a Superintendent in a small district, I wonder if I'll ever figure it all out. Part of that has to do with the fact that we're small (630+ students), so many of us at the district office play a "jack of all trades" role. I've accepted that I'll be a learner - being vulnerable, sharing, growing, challenging others and myself while I'm at it.
In my 20+ years in public education, my resiliency has been strengthened time and time again. My love for learning and inspiring others to learn hasn't drifted. At times, the negative media attention on my profession has strengthened my skills as an advocate and steadfast supporter of those in my district and beyond.
I lead because there is a joy in the journey. I have to find my head and my heart in many encounters and endeavors, but in the end, my heart leads me back every fall to doing what I love....leading. The best part of my humanity is what I bring to a job I love, working with amazingly talented and dedicated colleagues who bring that same passion and heart to their work.
Together, we make a difference. We do it with heart.