LM May 2025

Throughout your career mentoring new superintendents, what patterns or challenges have you observed as most common among those entering the role? Q : The biggest “consistency” I have noticed over the years is how “overwhelmed” every new superintendent feels at the New Superintendent’s Conference as they begin their first year in the chair. At the Conference, the new superin tendents typically hear about Board relations, finance, per sonnel, insurance, Board policy, their contracts—you name it—and, at some point, their eyes begin to glaze over with thoughts of “what did I get myself into?” Yet, once they get on the job and begin to do the work, they recognize that all of those aforementioned topics don’t all arise at once and, just like any new role, they begin to feel more comfortable addressing the myriad of topics that superintendents deal with in their positions. New superintendents recognize that theirs is not an easy job, but it’s more manageable once they realize that everything doesn’t need to be addressed in the first month, and possibly not even in the first year. A : even imagine would arise. Because of the addition of the Field Services Director positions, all new superintendents knew they had a “lifeline” with someone who had been a successful superintendent and was only a phone call away. “ I truly believe that most of us go into education to make a difference and to make the world a better place because of our efforts. Whether we focus on students, teachers, administrators, communities, or superintendents, the end game—hopefully—is to make that difference or to have improved the world in some way. -Dr. Gary Zabilka

You may have heard Lou Gehrig’s quote, ‘I feel like the luckiest man on the face of the earth,’ but that’s truly how I have felt these last 13 years serving as a Field Services Director. I loved being a superintendent for 13 years before retiring and, upon joining IASA immediately after retirement, I looked forward to mentoring and sup porting new superintendents for what I thought would be about the next 5 years or so. Before I knew it, 13 years had passed. I have enjoyed every moment—really! Watching the growth of brand-new superintendents that first year, supporting them so they don’t feel so overwhelmed, and then seeing them navigate those first couple of years successfully has been the most fulfilling aspect of this role, as well as the development of great relationships with so many of them. after retiring from your superintendent position? What aspects have you found most fulfilling? A : As one of the original Field Services Directors when the position was conceived 13 years ago, what was it like to help define this role within the Illinois Association of School Administrators? Q : There were only three Field Service Directors when the roles were initially developed, and Dr. Nick Osborne, Dr. Bill Phillips, and I covered the entire state during those first couple of years. At that time (and I know this is going to sound like ancient history), we weren’t using Zoom yet, so we “traversed” the entire State of Illinois—which be comes very large when you’re driving to region meetings and districts, especially mid-state and downstate. We did our best to arrange schedules to meet with as many newer superintendents as we could in person, and then by phone when we couldn’t coordinate our schedules. The most important message we emphasized at that time was for new superintendents to call us if they had ques tions or needed assistance solving problems they couldn’t A : Q : How rewarding has it been to maintain your connection to the educational field as a Field Services Director

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LM May 2025