LM Sept2022hi

Message From the Executive Director The Superintendency Doesn’t Have To Be a Lonely Job. Interact With Your Peers at the IASAAnnual Conference

Dr. Brent Clark

Great Start to the School Year I am elated to hear so many positive reports from superintendents about the start of the 2022–23 school year. A sense of normalcy has returned to district operations and school buildings are once again vibrant. Thank you to everyone in the field who weathered the storm and remained focused on helping students succeed. There were a lot of distractions the past two years, but school administrators continued to show up each day for their students and staff. The work you put in mattered. Looking forward, I’m excited for the future. Schools are innovating thanks to an infusion of technology and additional funding. More districts are also developing career pathway programs and forging community partnerships with businesses and the medical community. Education is evolving in Illinois at a grassroots level. As the leaders of school districts, superintendents play a major role in pushing public education forward. Keep up the great work, and I’ll see you in Springfield, September 28–30.

There’s an old adage about how “the superintendency can be a lonely job” because, in many cases, there is only one superintendent in the community. However, in recent years, I’ve heard superintendents update that saying with the punchline—but only if you let it be. One simple way to not let the job feel lonely is to interact with your peers from across the state at IASA’s Annual Conference in Springfield. Odds are, you will strike up a conversation with a superintendent from a different region of the state and discover you are dealing with similar problems. While the zip codes and number of buildings may be different from community to community, superintendents in large and small districts share many common experiences. Having those face-to-face conversations with your peers will help you recharge your batteries and grow as a leader. If you haven’t registered already, I encourage you to take advantage of this premier networking opportunity. You are bound to walk away with something positive that you can take back to your district, whether it’s a new program, new resource or even an inspirational message. Turn to page 4 to learn more about this year’s conference program and keynote speakers.

W E L C O M E ,

F A L L !

3 LM September 2022