LM Sept. 2023_final

Adam Welcome The Time Is Now Thurs. Morning— Second General Session

Sponsored by:

How would you describe your speaking style? I’ve always felt my style of speaking is comparable to a roller coaster. I always weave in energy, emotion, teachable moments, stories about kids and educators and, at the end, it all comes together in a momentous finale just like a ride at the amusement park. Everyone is going to laugh, some people are going to cry (all happy tears) but EVERYONE will walk away with some new ideas to implement in their school district. What are you looking forward to most when you present at the IASA Annual Conference? Connecting with new leaders that I don’t already know and, in turn, connecting with others who don’t already know each other is always a highlight and mission of mine. We’re better together, and the sooner we can connect with each other, the better we’re going to be for the students we work with every single day. What’s one thing about you that people should know before your keynote presentation? I’ve been a teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal and Director of Innovation for a district with 35,000 students. I’m an educator and always make decisions that are best for kids. The adults are important, but everything we do BETTER be good for kids.

Can you share a piece of leadership advice for superintendents? My best piece of advice for superintendents is to spend as much time as you can each week in classrooms. I know it’s hard when you’re running an entire district, but spending time in classrooms with kids and teachers is the BEST way to see where your organization is. You can’t know where you need to go, if you first don’t know where you are. I’ve worked with over 350 school districts in 44 states, and I just feel too many district leaders spend WAY too much time in their offices. More classrooms, less district office. Was there an educator in your life who helped you become the person you are today? My dad was a second-grade teacher for 35 years and he completely shaped and molded the educator that I am today. He’s been gone 12 years, and I miss him dearly, but every decision I make as a human being is reflected in what he did as a teacher.

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7 LM September 2023