By Mollie Sherman
It’s always a pleasure to hear passion
in people’s voices as they speak on something they truly believe in- my week
with the West Coast cohort indulged me time and time again as Superintendents
from across the country shared their stories. There was a warmth of comradery
in the air as peers turned in their seats to listen to each other formulate
ideas and hypothesize initiatives to further their district’s learning. They
challenged each other to become truly 21st century educators, and each
superintendent rose to the occasion with resolve to bring positive and lasting
change to the education our children receive in the public school system.
Daniel Cox, Superintendent of the Charles City Community School District in
Iowa, spoke to the spirit of this resolution during an activity centered around
technology integration as he shared his view of the superintendent’s unique
role to “engage, empower, and inspire” their districts.
The personal note of experience inflecting each of their shared thoughts
touched on the drive to persevere. A handful of superintendents presented their
“Leadership Stories” of growth, highlighting the curves in the path of their
lives that brought them to this position of leadership that allows them to
enact continuous, bettering transformation. Many spoke of their parents or
family influencing their belief in the value of education- it was incredible to
note how many of the superintendents in the room had parents that had barely
completed their college education, and some even high school. Michael Muñoz,
Superintendent of Rochester Public Schools in Minnesota, shared with the cohort
words from his father that stay with him to this day: “Education is a key.”
Muñoz, who earlier spoke on some of his experiences growing up as a person of
color, expanded on his father’s words, stating that for him it became obvious
that “with an education I have a key to open any door to be whatever I want to
be.”
At the session’s end, a resounding ‘amen’ surrounded the re-energizing and
affirming nature of these sessions that leave the cohort feeling confident and
prepared to better serve their districts’ well-being. As Larry Perondi, program
mentor and former Superintendent of Oceanside Unified School District in
California vocalized in his closing remarks, the commitment and passion of
educational leaders was evident in the room, and I was truly fortunate to have
witnessed such a significant meeting of academic collaboration.