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The opportunity to encourage and challenge
superintendents to make an impact on the lives of
children is something he looks forward to, Rigsby said.
Superintendents, he said, carry an enormous
responsibility because they have the ability to impact so
many lives. For any leader, the challenge is being able
to communicate your vision to your staff and getting
them to buy in but, at the same time, be self-aware of
their influence.
“The leaders I meet and admire the most are the ones
who have one thing in common—a definitive purpose
and burning desire to communicate and stay on
message,” he said. “That burning desire to encourage
others and, at same time, growing their influence so they
want to go, want to work and want to participate.
He continued: “Leadership is influence. The ability to
influence others in your sphere.”
Rigsby also attributed his success in life to public
education. When he was in the third grade, his teacher
changed his life when she volunteered to stay after
school with him while he read.
He describes the experience in a video on his website
this way: “A third grader from the hood started to develop
a vociferous appetite for reading and developed an
efficacious vocabulary.”
It would have been easy for that teacher to overlook him,
but she didn’t, Rigsby said. That’s why anytime he speaks
to academic communities, he reminds them that you never
know where a child will end up. Every day, it’s imperative
for school leaders to “bring their A-game” and be willing to
do what it takes to reach kids.
“I was the class clown, but this third-grade teacher did
not judge me and was not deterred by my poor behavior
choices in class,” Rigsby said. “I stayed after school, and
she introduced me to Beverly Cleary books and, as a
result, I developed a real appreciation for the written word.
Because of the seeds planted by that third-grade teacher,
I still read a lot.”
Rigsby is one of three keynote speakers at the IASA
Annual Conference, along with state superintendent Dr.
Tony Smith and legendary UCLA softball coach Sue
Enquist. Smith will speak Friday morning and Enquist will
close the conference.
Rigsby is a father of four with two grandchildren.
Rigsby’s book became a USA
Today and Wall Street Journal
best seller; the graduation
speech it inspired has
received 100+ million views
on Facebook and YouTube.
To learnmore about Rigsby and
watch himspeak click .
Rigsby...cont’d.