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their lives in balance, we hope, and will be making a decision about their career.” Unquestionably, the pandemic will have a lasting impact on the superintendency and public education as a whole. COVID-19 exacerbated the challenges superintendents faced and added levels of stress and pressure to an already demanding job. Many years ago, Dr. James Rosborg, a retired superintendent and semi-retired Director of Master’s in Education at McKendree University, said he was told by a professor that every superintendent makes seven enemies per year in any school district. That figure surely went up this past school year. “Personally, I picked up high blood pressure and diabetes, and it was the good Lord’s way of telling me I couldn’t work 80 hours per week forever,” said Dr. James Rosborg, who retired from Belleville District #118 in 2005. “Superintendents are now under more stress because of COVID, but they also had years of tight budgets, maybe contentious boards and dealing with proration of General State Aid. That all leads to a lot of stress.” For Dr. Greenwood, she has no regrets about continuing to lead Bemont CUSD #5 this past school year. In retirement, she looks forward to setting her own schedule, finishing a book and possibly revisiting the medical profession, which is where her career began before making the transition into education. As a superintendent, Dr. Greenwood said she considers herself a servant and was proud to be able to lead her community through an incredibly challenging school year. The future of public education is exciting, she added, with the pandemic opening the eyes of many educators about what is possible. “While it was tough without a doubt, I think we prepared our whole life to be in these positions of leadership,” Dr. Greenwood said. “The best of the best of us stepped up and demonstrated strong leadership and did what we were hired to do.”

“Instead of working until I’m 65, I’m going to take one year off in the middle,” Murphy said. “I had a great board and teachers, so I don’t feel like the pandemic drove me out of this, but I think the pandemic has given everyone a different perspective and maybe heightened that sense for me.” Like Murphy and Dr. Greenwood, the reason Dr. Timothy Kilrea,

superintendent of Lyons Twp HSD #204 since 2009, retired was not driven by the pandemic. There were a multitude of factors—such as spending more time with family and working part time—that played a role in his decision, but one of the key forces was leadership succession.

Dr. Timothy B. Kilrea

“If you care about your organization, I think it has to play into your decision,” Dr. Kilrea said. “I felt like it was time, and I’m looking forward to doing some other things. I am very fortunate to work in a school district that provided me with this opportunity.” Dr. Brian Waterman, a principal in Lyons Township for the past seven years, replaces Dr. Kilrea as superintendent. Steppedupand led While the pandemic pushed some superintendents to retire early despite having years left on their contract, it also pushed some leaders in the other direction. The COVID-19 hit near the end of the 2019–20 school year, forcing districts to rethink and reimagine public education on the fly. Knowing the immense challenges ahead, some superintendents felt uncomfortable about walking away at a time their districts and communities needed them most. “Superintendents feel a deep commitment to their organization, and it wasn’t a time for some people to make that transition,” said Dr. Jack Barshinger, President of the Illinois Council of Professors of Educational Administration. “I think people have had a chance to take a breath and put

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