President's Corner
Rebuilding a Sense of Belonging
BY PAUL W. IMHOFF/School Administrator, September 2021


THE PANDEMIC has provided opportunities and challenges for leaders in all aspects of our society, but superintendents have faced a unique set of challenges. These trials have been significant enough to contribute to the current and growing issue of superintendent turnover.

As the pandemic took hold in early 2020, public schools across the country reinvented education in a matter of days, and communities came together with a clear sense of “we’re all in this together.” Unfortunately, that initial sense of solidarity began to erode as summer turned to fall, and superintendents found themselves at the center of an ongoing debate about reopening.

Pandemic fatigue and pandemic anger are real and have taken a toll on our school leaders. As a result, we have seen an increasing number of early retirements, resignations and terminations. Nonetheless, when the definitive history of the pandemic is written, the leadership that superintendents showed through it all will be remembered.

School leaders have demonstrated leadership at the highest levels during this global crisis. We have made impossible choices based on incomplete information and adapted to a constantly changing landscape — all while keeping the focus on students.

Many school districts fully reopened this fall, providing in-person learning five days a week. Many are welcoming back co-curricular activities such as athletics and performing arts. And I’m sure the members of the Class of 2022 are looking forward to traditional proms and high school graduation ceremonies next spring.

As we carry on with the school year, we must focus on what we have learned through the pandemic and use those lessons to foster a culture of continuous improvement in our schools. As difficult as 2020 was, it brought to light the importance of closing the digital divide, building relationships with students and families, and looking after the social-emotional well-being of our students and their families, our staff and ourselves.

The pandemic also brought recognition to those often-unsung heroes in our school systems: the secretaries, bus drivers, food service workers, custodians and others who went above and beyond to ensure students’ needs were met.

Thank you all for remaining steadfast in this commitment to students and for serving your communities well.

Meeting students’ needs and responding to the twists and turns of the pandemic often meant decisions needed to be made quickly, from the top down. Some of our teams may have emerged stronger from this chapter, while others may have felt isolated and disconnected from school leadership. One of our primary focuses as leaders for the year ahead must be reconnecting with every member of our staff and rebuilding a sense of belonging within our school district. This is vital not only to our team’s success but also to the success of our students.

I want to extend a special message of welcome to all of the first-year superintendents who are joining us as we navigate what promises to be an eventful year. Reach out to your colleagues in neighboring districts and get involved in local and state associations. Become active within AASA and lend your voice to the national perspective. You will quickly learn the superintendency is a close-knit group of passionate educators who are always willing to help each other. We all need someone to hold us up — nobody can do it alone.

Leaders are uniquely positioned to help bring communities together as we focus on our shared values. Schools are the center of our communities. By focusing on our children, we can remind ourselves and our communities that we’re in this together. Together we will challenge and support every student every step of the way.

PAUL IMHOFF is AASA president in 2021-22. Twitter: @imhoffpaul