Back to the Trenches - school superintendents who choose lower-profile positions in school administration

School Administrator, March, 1996 by Krista Ramsey

While initially he felt relieved of the responsibility for planning and overseeing everything in the district, "I later realized it's what I missed the most.

Good Sense

Most superintendents say it is a dash to the ego to leave the top position for a lower rank, much as it was a thrill to assume it. Some chafe at having to abide by someone else's decisions. Others find it hard to adjust to sharp pay cuts.

Still, most say stepping down was the right decision. In a society that seems to value only advancement, some feel they exercised professional integrity and personal good sense in leaving the superintendency for another position in K-12 schooling.

"I think I'm a lot more fun than I used to be," says Michael Kenney, a former superintendent in Leland, Mich., and now director of general educational services for Traverse Bay, Mich., Area District Schools. "When you take on the superintendency the job never really leaves you. As I looked around at my peers, I realized that the job had gotten tougher in the last eight to 10 years, that we weren't having as much fun with it as we used to. After I left, I saw my quality of life improve."

Osborne, who returned to a principalship after two Kentucky superintendencies, says this: "You have to become what you want to become, not what you think others expect of you. For me, the superintendency was a function of simply moving up in the job. It was arrogance. It was egotism. Now I'm going to be who I want to be, and I'm not going to apologize for who I am."

Krista Ramsey is a free-lance education writer in Cincinnati.

Don't Leave Before Pondering These Paints

Leaving the superintendency is a big step, personally, professionally, and emotionally. Just as some administrators enter the job with too much haste and too little forethought, some exit it the same way, experts say.

Here are some points to consider before departing the superintendency for a lower-level school administration post.

* Think carefully before accepting another position in your present school district.

While many superintendents think they can do it, the loss of status and authority is often an obstacle to success in their new role. Hard feelings with current board members or community members can linger. The new superintendent may resent having his or her predecessor so close at hand.

* Don't depart prematurely.

Many superintendents leave their job over one major battle or crisis, often related to funding or school facility issues. They generalize feelings of frustration, believing they have failed in the position rather than just losing one issue. Sometimes, they prematurely leave a job for which they are, in fact, well suited.

Before deciding to go, seek career guidance from mentors, colleagues, or career counselors. While a change may be in order, it may be a less dramatic switch than you anticipate--to a new district, for example, rather than a new role.

* Don't underestimate the rigors of the job.

Many superintendents--especially young or inexperienced ones--underestimate the job's demands and the impact on one's family. They take care of business, but give little thought or planning to physical health, personal relationships, relaxation, or a balanced lifestyle. Changes in these can sometimes ease professional pressures. Self-examination is a first step; professional help may prove the quickest route for long-term changes.