When my career started, I already had two Bachelor’s degrees in Science and Education. When I became Vice-Principal, my Master’s degree in Educational Administration laid the foundation for the work that lay ahead. In both situations, I was definitely nervous when starting the job, but I felt somewhat confident with the solid preparation.

Not so much when I became Superintendent.

I was certainly excited about the new gig and was pretty sure that that I could do the job — but, there was a feeling of self-doubt that permeated my being. That was almost 7 years ago.

What does an effective Superintendent look like? What should I be doing?

• Have a morning ritual of 5:00 am exercise followed by a nutrient-rich breakfast shake;
• Review my daily / weekly / monthly Strategic objectives at 7:00 am to fine tune them;
• Enter all meetings with purpose and presence;
• Pursue my vision for the system with unwavering certainty.

Well, I do wake up every morning around 5:30 and I do try to exercise. And, YES, I make myself a healthy shake for breakfast.

Check. Check. And check.

The other qualities? Ummm … Let’s move on.

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