Lonely at the top: the greatest challenge for some superintendents is the professional isolation they feel

School Administrator, Feb, 2004 by Michael Jazzar, Dale P. Kimball

* Keep the saw sharp. People are coming to you looking for answers. Give yourself the opportunity to ask your own questions. Reading, talking to people, taking seminars and even playing golf or tennis are valuable activities to keep yourself sharp. Learn something new.

* Know yourself. The stress and isolation of the superintendency is just too much for some people. Know yourself and know when to take a break.

* Head out of Dodge. Take mini-vacations: Get away from the job by taking mini-breaks at least bi-monthly. When you get away, leave the phone at home.

* Read for pleasure. Read noneducational materials to escape from the everyday pressures for several hours each week.

* Take time to exercise. Take time for yourself each day. Walk, run, bike, lift weights or climb mountains. The point is force yourself to do something physical every day.

* Start a small group. Meet at least monthly with superintendent friends for lunch or some activity (golf, cards, bowling or some other social activity) where you can mix business and pleasure conversations.

* Spend time with family. Plan family time and don't let anything interfere. Your family is your best support mechanism.

--Michael Jazzar and Dale Kimball

RELATED ARTICLE: Lonely at the start: a first-year superintendent.

BY NICHOLAS E. CEGLAREK

Fresh out of college, I was fortunate to land a job as a math teacher in one of the most progressive districts in Michigan. Home to upper-middle-class students, the school district was nationally recognized through the Blue Ribbon Schools program. The school district had high test scores, dominating athletic teams and extraordinary fine arts programs.

The challenges before me were academic in nature. Students and parents demanded and expected a rigorous curriculum, captivating lessons and high marks (for all).

When an opportunity presented itself in school administration, I grabbed it. I handled an array of assignments as a middle school administrator for three years. I discovered it's easy to become comfortable in the right environment, one where widespread involvement by parents with means and influence makes a difference.

While continuing on this career path probably would have led to promotions within the school system, prestige, higher salaries and greater respect, I found myself becoming complacent. I needed a new professional challenge.

A Sundry Situation

In October 2002 I accepted the superintendency of a small school district. If there is such a thing as two opposite school districts, this was it. High poverty (89.5 percent of students were eligible for federal assistance), highly diverse (38.5 percent non-white), rural (460 square miles) and low test scores were the circumstances facing my new district.

My first three months as a superintendent went as follows: a) Discovered a district employee was a convicted felon; b) Learned that a teen gang was controlling high school students; and c) Was forced to trim $600,000 from a $7.2 million budget, roughly 8 percent. I now understand that all school super intendents face similar challenges regularly. I considered my first days on the job a calamity!