6
Let’s try common sense approach
As the busy summer of a
superintendent draws to a
close, please allow me to say
how much I appreciate the job
that each and every one of you
do. I know it is extremely
difficult to maintain a positive
attitude in the politically
charged and always complex
Illinois
public
education
system, but now more than
ever the thousands of children
we serve every single day
need us at the top of our game.
As I reflect on the many various situations we
have traversed the past several years, with
education reform at the top of the list, I find myself
looking for a beacon in a sea of perpetual change –
much like a lighthouse guides us from darkness to
destination. Although our destination seems to be a
moving target, we still open the doors daily to our
future. We still love and nurture those students, and
we still strive to provide a first-class education to the
children of Illinois no matter what might be the
political agenda of the day.
The Illinois Association of School Administrators
(IASA) serves as that beacon of light to help guide
school administrators through the perils of the
unintended or even the untenable. I have found that
the IASA staff and Board of Directors work very hard
to assist us in our duties and, possibly most
importantly, provide focus to our state leaders and
the general public on the
real
issues we face.
When I accepted my first superintendency, a
colleague once reminded me of the old adage that it
was truly “lonely at the top” and added that as a
school superintendent, friends can quickly become
enemies and your enemies multiply. In my 20 years
as a school administrator, I have found those words
both frightening and highly accurate.
I am very proud to be a part of IASA – the only
statewide organization that is always there for us
and works tirelessly to aid in our quest for
educational excellence. I am very humbled and
honored to be President of this association and hope
that I can contribute some common sense when
helping our state leaders deal with issues that are
certainly “common” over time, but where the
problems are due largely to a lack of “sense”.
Thank you again for all you do for our children. I
truly hope your summer was restful as well as
peaceful, and that the coming year is full of great
and powerful achievements. Lastly, never lose sight
of the destination, and may God bless us in our
endeavor to shape a better future.
Message from the
IASA President
Dr. Steve Webb
