Superintendents Exemplify Servant Leaders

The demands on our superintendents and staff have never been more intense and far reaching. Superintendents do not hesitate to accept and embrace the additional responsibilities, and they carry the burden in implementing legislation that may significantly impact their districts. I applaud your commitment to public education and your willingness to serve the students, teachers, administrators, school-based staff and ultimately your community.

I specifically chose the word “serve,” because the role of a superintendent truly is that of a servant leader. Servant leadership is defined as a leadership philosophy in which the goal of the leader is to serve. Servant leaders are successful in bringing out the best in any organization, by putting the needs, growth, and wellbeing of followers first. In other words, these types of leaders adopt a serve-first mindset. An effective public school superintendent does just that, each and every day.  

While there may be differences of opinion which can be healthy and productive, I firmly believe that the strength of our association is, and has always been, grounded in the commonality of this valued and meaningful profession. Florida superintendents are and have always been stronger together, and I thank each of you for your commitment to public education, your colleagues, and FADSS.