Sharing personal stories to Model the Way and “pay it forward”

I didn’t fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong. ”
– Benjamin Franklin

One of the greatest joys I have as a school superintendent is also a great challenge at times. It is supporting leadership and growth among and for adults in support of other adults and children. I take great pride and value in supporting school principals and central office personnel as we together support education for students. The eye on the prize – the prize is student learning and growth – the eye is our united focus!

Often I share personal leadership stories and personal leadership support stories in an effort to share and inform and to model and demonstrate and to explain my motivations as a leader. That said, I have been quite lucky and blessed you might say, with the mentors, guides, and coaches in my life personally and professionally over the leadquoteyears. I have had wonderful people take the time to help me and visualize that which could, would, and does lie before me. My aim is to “pay it forward” so to speak, with the folks with whom I work and lead. None of my own personal success or accomplishment is self deserved or self owned. It’s group and team deserved and group and team owned. There is no “I” in Team as the saying goes and I am grateful to so many past, present, and future colleagues, friends, guides, and supports!

It’s an honor in this blog post to share a story recently published in the AASA (American Association of School Administrators: The School Superintendent’s Association) under Leadership & Professional Development – National Superintendent Certification Program – Success Stories.

This is a testimonial about an amazing program led by visionary and action oriented leaders in support of school leadership, student and adult growth and learning, and I dedicate any success or growth for me to the excellent colleagues with whom I am enrolled and from whom I learn each and every interaction.

Thanks to visionary leaders like Brent Clark in Illinois and Dan Domenech at the AASA and many others, I and other school leaders are able to take a lonely job and benefit from the wisdom of so many as their vision turns this job into an UNLONELY one! I would be remiss if I did not thank Rich Voltz and Denny Deardon as well – and there are so many others for whom I’m grateful and to whom I say Thank you!

The AASA National Superintendent Certification Program: Leadership Development For Superintendents (click on the link / title for the web page where published)

After completing a two-year leadership program through the Illinois School of Advanced Leadership, sponsored by the Illinois Association of School Administrators, I realized the incredible benefit and energy generated by working with school leaders from across my state.

I learned how to apply new leadership concepts and incorporate principles into my work. It was gratifying to be leadershipimagepart of high-level leadership opportunities for my personal and professional growth, which will help me better serve my school district and the community.

The timing was perfect when AASA, The School Superintendents Association, informed me that my application was accepted to be among the East Coast Cohort for its National Superintendent Certification program.

This unique leadership program, designed to help school district leaders succeed on the job, brings together superintendents from around the country. The East Coast Cohort, the group I am a part of, consists of 26 superintendents representing 15 states. So far, we have been able to benefit from lead learners as well as veteran superintendents. Just as important, we also get to learn from one another. These expert superintendents help us understand that the working relationship with our board is perhaps the most important relationship we have.

During reflective leadership exercises highlighting our unique experiences, we built bonds that united us in the consistencies of the challenges we each face. We also engaged in board and governance workshops with representatives from the National School Boards Association.

An essential element of the program includes coach/mentor support from a master superintendent. This mentor relationship supports multiple levels of growth and support in the superintendency. The superintendency is often described as “lonely at the top,” but AASA is making efforts to change that through supportive, deliberate, thoughtful and high-level leadership and education.

At AASA’s 2015 National Conference on Education, it was so energizing to witness the first-ever group of superintendents who graduated from the certification program. While at the conference, we all commented on how powerful and valuable it was to reconnect and learn leadership techniques with peers from across the country. The interaction with colleagues, who have completed the game-changing process, allowed us to feel a positive momentum shift in what we do as educators on behalf of our communities.

As a member of AASA, I benefit from timely and relevant information about policy, leadership, board relations and other necessary tools to help me and others become more successful. AASA also directly supports my leadership development through this program, which gives us the opportunity to ponder the differences between preparation and readiness.

Superintendents are licensed and prepared with degrees for the post. Are they ready to lead a district? Are they clear about their leadership story? This program supports growth, development and values from top leaders across the nation. For sustained success of education and growth in our nation, I strongly support participation in this program. This professional development initiative is critical for K-12 education as superintendents lead millions of children and effective leadership can be defined, learned and refined.

Engaging in the National Superintendent Certification program has enhanced my leadership and skills in ways that will benefit me and my profession for many years to come.

For more information about AASA’s National Superintendent Certification program, visit www.aasa.org/superintendent-certification.aspx.

Michael Lubelfeld is the superintendent of Deerfield Public Schools in Deerfield, Ill. Lubelfeld, a superintendent for 5 years, is a participant in the AASA’s East Coast Cohort in the National Superintendent Certification Program.

leadimage

Blog Talk Radio Interview from November 3, 2014 (Originally posted on my blog November 6, 2014 – about the National Superintendent Certification Program from the AASA and the SUPES Academy – interview with me and two other superintendents

Check Out Education Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with EDUCATION TALK RADIO PRE K -20 on BlogTalkRadio with Education Talk Radio on BlogTalkRadio

Blog Talk Radio – “Podcast” about Innovative Spaces in DPS109

“There is greatness all around you–welcome it! It is easy to be great when you get around great people.”
– Bob Richards

Mrs. Marcie Faust, Dr. Jeff Zoul, and I share a “blogtalk radio” episode (shared below) where we are Modeling the Way with digital communications in an effort to express and share innovative planning in DPS109! Please listen and share your thoughts. Jeff and I plan to launch scheduled “talk radio” episodes in the coming weeks and months.

Our inaugural post is about a new innovative initiative in DPS109, the Classroom of the Future!

As it is our first post and we did it live the first 10 seconds are a bit choppy …

Check Out Education Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with Superintendent Thoughts on BlogTalkRadio