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From new insurance policies to shifting budgets to know-how, college determination makers aren’t any strangers to vary. How can leaders navigate evolving alternatives and challenges and drive constructive influence, whereas protecting the pursuits of scholars and educators on the forefront?
Ask Dr. Susan Enfield, who has greater than 20 years of college district management. She is a former superintendent of Highline Public Faculties and Washoe County College District, and he or she was named Superintendent of the Yr by the Nationwide College Basis Affiliation in 2018 and once more in 2022 by Washington State.
On this Q&A, Enfield shares insights on how know-how will help faculties overcome challenges, and the worth of trustworthy, empathetic communication throughout instances of transition. The interview was performed as a part of the Visionary Voices video collection. It has been edited for readability and brevity.
How do you assume know-how can play a job in lots of the challenges which might be going through college districts at the moment?
The challenges we face proceed to develop–not simply in magnitude however in complexity. Looking for out companions who will help us present options to the challenges that we face is extremely essential. As a superintendent, I’m at all times in search of new and higher ways in which we will serve college students by supporting our employees in giving them the instruments and the assets to make their jobs slightly bit simpler and extra manageable.
Whether or not that’s by way of bus routing software program, whether or not it’s by way of teletherapy to enhance the actually extraordinary work that our particular schooling people do in particular person, these issues matter. They make us not only a extra environment friendly group however a greater group the place folks really feel that the group itself is investing in them to do the actually nice work that we’d like them to do for our children each day.
Why ought to extra faculties embrace technology-based options?
Our kids can’t afford for us to not search out each doable answer to offer them with the assets and helps they want and deserve so that they graduate ready for no matter future they select for themselves.
How can leaders encourage their groups and communities to embrace know-how and new and progressive approaches?
Set up the necessity, use information when you’ve got it and might, after which just remember to’re together with others within the course of so there’s shared possession.
What recommendation would you give leaders seeking to implement huge modifications–associated to know-how or not–of their districts? Troublesome modifications?
Be clear on the why behind the change. As leaders, we typically downplay the why behind what we’re asking. If you find yourself implementing any change, make sure the rationale is obvious and that it additionally aligns together with your system.
Keep in mind the influence in your folks. Taking good care of your folks by way of the change course of is essential. And that may be acknowledging the ache, acknowledging the hardship. It’s actually essential to rejoice progress and rejoice success. It’s additionally actually essential to say, “What do you want? Do you have got the instruments, the assets, the helps that you simply want? Or is there extra that you simply want from me so that you can get this carried out?”
What ought to leaders be excited about as they wrap this 12 months and stay up for the subsequent college 12 months?
Have fun. Have fun what you and your crew achieved this 12 months. Take a second to acknowledge the nice work you’ve carried out over the course of the 12 months as a crew. Celebrating progress is extremely essential. This work is tough. They should know they’re seen and their work is appreciated.
Replicate. Replicate on what you wish to see completely different transferring ahead and actually assume by way of what it’s going take to maneuver on that change.
Relaxation. Not solely do you must do it for your self; you must do it in your associate and your loved ones. You want to do it for the employees you’re employed with and the kids that you simply serve. And so after you’ve carried out all that work of celebration and reflection and planning for the next 12 months, simply hit the pause button.
Dr. Susan Enfield is the previous Superintendent for the Washoe County College District in Reno, Nevada. Previous to this, she served as Superintendent for Highline Public Faculties in Burien, WA for ten years. Throughout that point the district developed its Highline Promise to know each pupil by identify, power and wish so that they graduate ready for the long run they select.
A former highschool English, journalism and ELL instructor, Susan served as Chief Tutorial Officer after which as Interim Superintendent for Seattle Public Faculties earlier than becoming a member of Highline in 2012. She beforehand held management positions in Evergreen Public Faculties (Vancouver, WA), Portland Public Faculties and the Pennsylvania Division of Training.
Susan is a graduate of the College of California, Berkeley, and earned grasp’s levels from Stanford College and Harvard College. She additionally holds a doctoral diploma in Administration, Planning and Social Coverage from Harvard’s City Superintendents Program. She was named the Superintendent of the Yr by the Nationwide College Basis Affiliation in 2018 and was the 2022 Washington State Superintendent of the Yr.
