You know you've made it to the top when you reach your first superintendency. Then you discover that in a small school district, you have to learn to do it all.
My first superintendency was in a K-12 district of 380 students. There was one principal and there was me! Who wrote the grants? Who was the building and grounds director, transportation director and food service manager? The superintendent, of course.
While it was a wonderful experience, getting to know the ins and outs of every facet of schools was a rather awesome undertaking.
One of my biggest and recurring headaches was the inability to find substitute bus drivers. While my fleet of drivers covered just five routes and included two substitute drivers, at times, because of extracurricular runs and field trips, we had to say "no" to planned events because of a shortage of bus drivers.
Desperate Measures
When one driver took a long-term medical leave, it really put the district in a bind. On at least four instances, I had to beg a part-time driver to handle a route that was really inconvenient. Otherwise, I might have had to cancel school for a lack of transportation.
To address the pressing need, I decided I should pick up my commercial driver's license and bus operator certification. I figured as a last resort, I could hop in a bus and drive an afternoon route. I drove various routes about 20 times that year, which helped us get through without stranding any students.
Adding to my endless list of duties was not the best decision I've ever made, but I was responsible for the students and if pitching in behind the wheel fit my schedule, I would do that as well. When the driver came back from his leave, I let my bus driver's license expire.
A Humble Moment
The most humbling experience can be humorous too. I was shopping in a local Wal-Mart, dressed in a suit and tie, when my eyes were caught by a cute 6-year-old girl sitting in a shopping cart in a checkout line with her mother. I recognized her as one of our students. She smiled and announced, "I know you."
Delighted by the recognition, I replied, "You do? Who am I?"
"The bus driver," she said.
"You're right," I admitted, somewhat sheepishly and we all had a good laugh in the checkout line.
After 27 years as a professional educator, three academic degrees and a lifetime of experiences, I've always remembered this saying: "It's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice." And yes, I am the bus driver.
Life's Lessons
Now in my eighth year as a superintendent of a school district of approximately 1,000 students, I reflect upon my earlier experiences in a smaller district and see the value in having a hands-on role in so many areas. Everyone starts somewhere. Your professional successes are built upon what you can do and what you can learn from others. We all grow from a variety of experiences. Smaller districts provide wonderful learning experiences.
Among the lessons I learned:
No job is a small job.
Each job in the school environment is important.
There's more to a job that you'll never know until you take it.
Bus drivers are valued employees, but I'd rather see one than be one!
Kirby Rodgers is superintendent of the Midland Community Unit School District, 206 N. High St., Lacon, Ill. 613540. E-mail: krodgers@midland-7.org