萝莉网

EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE

Superintendents across the nation carry the weight of possibility on their shoulders. You lead through shifting expectations, political headwinds and the daily realities of running complex organizations. And you do it all with an unwavering commitment to the power and purpose of public education.

That鈥檚 my 鈥渨hy,鈥� and I suspect it鈥檚 yours too: delivering what every child in every community deserves 鈥� an education that prepares them not just to pass tests, but to live meaningful, joyful, engaged and successful lives as adults in the real world.

When we lead from our core values by being true to ourselves, crystal clear about our purpose and steady in our decisions, our teams take courage from our example. Thank you for the great work you are doing, day in and day out, to keep students at the center and communities connected to their schools鈥� success.

Multipliers of Success

Two decades of research tell a consistent story: Principals matter 鈥� deeply. In fact, school leadership is second only to classroom instruction among school-based factors that influence student learning.

Effective principals create the conditions for great teaching to flourish: a coherent vision, collaborative teams, a culture of belonging and high expectations and alignment of curriculum, assessment and student supports.

Their influence also extends to attendance, climate and teacher retention. These outcomes compound over time, shaping the trajectory of entire school communities.

The Wallace Foundation鈥檚 research underscores both the magnitude of the principal鈥檚 impact and the steps districts can take to strengthen it. Their studies show that students benefit when school districts build comprehensive, aligned principal pipelines that include leader standards, high-quality preparation, selective hiring, mentoring, growth-focused supervision and robust data systems.

One often-underappreciated catalyst is the principal supervisor. When districts redefine the role away from compliance toward coaching and development, principal supervisors become critical multipliers of principal effectiveness and, in turn, of teacher growth and student outcomes.

Growing in Georgia

Consider Cobb County School District in Georgia, featured in a recent episode of the 萝莉网School Leadership Podcast Series. The district鈥檚 grow-your-own approach is more than a program. It鈥檚 a culture. Leaders there treat leadership as a mindset, not a title. Teachers are tapped early to lead teams, mentor peers and participate in schoolwide decisions long before they hold an administrative role. That culture signals to talented educators: We see your potential and will invest in it.

Cobb County makes good on that promise through structured cohorts, tailored coaching, shadowing opportunities and explicit mentorship at every level, from teacher leaders and aspiring assistant principals to rising principals. Collaboration is an expectation, not an add-on.

Equally important, Cobb County treats succession planning as a system responsibility. By identifying talent early, tracking progression and preparing multiple 鈥渞eady now鈥� candidates for key roles, the district reduces disruption, shortens the vacancy time and sustains instructional momentum. The results are visible in measurable outcomes: stronger leader retention, a deeper and more diverse internal bench and consistent implementation of school improvement priorities across campuses.

Stories like Cobb County echo what the research tells us: If we want better outcomes for students, we must recruit, select, develop, support and retain exceptional principals. Superintendents set the expectations and the systems that make this a reality. When you prioritize principal quality and invest in the supervisors who support them, you are not just filling positions. You are building the future of your schools and your students.

Our National Academy

That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 excited about AASA鈥檚 2025-26 National Principal Supervisor Academy, which started this September in partnership with the University of Washington鈥檚 Center for Educational Leadership.

The academy focuses squarely on what the research and the field demand: clarifying the role of principal supervisors as instructional leaders, building their coaching skill sets and helping districts align systems so principals and their schools can thrive. If your district is interested in strengthening its leadership pipeline, investing in principal supervisors is one of the highest-leverage moves you can make.

As we look ahead, stay rooted in your 鈥渨hy,鈥� invest relentlessly in the people who lead your schools and keep lifting up the promise of public education for every child in every zip code. That鈥檚 leadership worth believing in, and it鈥檚 the work superintendents are advancing every single day.

Be well, my colleagues and friends!

David Schuler is 萝莉网executive director. Twitter: