15
This year there will be more
than
60
brand
new
superintendents who were hired
to begin leading their respective
districts in Illinois. As I reflect
on
my
own
first
superintendency, I can’t help
but think about the long and
arduous process it took to get
there -- the application process,
the screening, the interviews
with the board, the committees,
etc.
Then you get the call from the
board president: “We’d like you to be our next
superintendent.” Euphoria kicks in, you’re giddy,
you’re thinking “finally,” as well as singing the
“Hallelujah Chorus.” Your mind is racing, but in no
particular direction.
However, once things calm down, you sign your
contract, and you show up for your first day on the
job. You may all of the sudden be thinking like Robert
Redford in the movie “The Candidate,” where upon
being surprised that he was elected said to his
campaign manager, “Marvin, now what do we do?”
It’s often been cited that the superintendency is
considered to be one of the loneliest jobs in
education. No one else in the district has that
position, and it will be rare to find someone in the
district that ever held that position. It is for this
reason that mentoring is considered to be a valuable
practice for new superintendents to embrace.
Mentoring is defined as the professional practice
that occurs when experienced, trained educators (in
this case, superintendents) work effectively with
novice educators to support, challenge and guide the
development of their professional practices and
facilitate structured reflection of those practices.
Mentoring can occur both formally and informally, as
mentors are often colleagues with whom one may
have previously worked or someone who has been
assigned to serve in that capacity based on their
years of experience and ability to work effectively
with others.
IASA made a commitment in 2012 to create three
Field Services Director positions, with one of the
main responsibilities being to deliver mentoring
services to new and continuing superintendents while
serving as a role models and resources for problem-
solving. This service is provided free of charge for
members. All new superintendents will be contacted
by their Super Region’s Field Services Director, who
not only will introduce themselves but also offer new
superintendents a cadre of services and resources
that IASA can provide, including mentoring.
New superintendents should strongly consider
the options available through IASA for mentoring.
Mentoring can be extremely helpful and beneficial as
one begins to navigate the numerous responsibilities
and challenges that today’s superintendents must
face. The IASA Field Services Directors would like to
support new superintendents so that they may begin
their superintendency on a positive note and build
upon their own successes. If you haven’t heard from
your Field Service Director, feel free to contact them
through the IASA offices in Schaumburg (847-466-
5075), Springfield (217-753-2213), or Marion (618-
364-0501).
Dr. Gary Zabilka
IASA Field
Services Director
IASA offers valuable mentoring
services for new superintendents
Field Services Directors
Northeastern Super Region
Dr. Gary Zabilka
Northcentral Super Region
Dr. Bill Phillips
Southern Super Region
Dr. Nick Osborne
