My Path to the Superintendency Jill Siler, Ed.D
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My Path to the Superintendency Jill Siler, Ed.D. Gunter ISD Superintendent [email protected] @jillmsiler jillmsiler.com Gunter ISD 1,005 Students; PK-12 The Silers The Path… I didn’t feel like I was ready I didn’t want to move out of the Austin area I didn’t think I would like the job I didn’t think I could balance being a mom and a superintendent My “yes” wasn’t on the table Kind of District My Path… Teacher / Coach (Pflugerville ISD), 6 yrs Received Masters (Ed Admin), Texas State University Assistant Principal for Instruction (Marble Falls ISD), 2 yrs Associate Principal for Curriculum (Lake Travis ISD), 2 yrs Director of Secondary Curriculum (Lake Travis ISD), 2 yrs Received Doctorate (Ed Admin), University of Texas at Austin Executive Director of Academic & Organizational Development (LTISD), 4yrs Superintendent (Gunter ISD), Currently serving; 8 yrs STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES Solid time in the classroom No Principalship 4 years as a campus administrator No Assistant Superintendent Central Office experience All campus level ◦ deep experience in curriculum administrative work ◦ involvement in Finance/HR on the instructional Received my doctorate side Worked in a variety on contexts Most recent 8 yrs in (large urban, small rural, rich/poor) an affluent setting Your Path… ~ Make good decisions on your path ◦Roles, Context, Mobility ~ Don’t rush it… There is learning and leadership in every position ~ Understand that your decisions can impact your future path (and that’s ok!) Let me take you to lunch… The Superintendent Search… Finding the Jobs ◦ www.TexasISD.com The Superintendent Search… ◦ Arrow ◦ Leasor Crass Law Firm (Rhonda Crass) ◦ CCR Educational Consultants ◦ O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo ◦ DRV Executive Search Services ◦ TASB Executive Search Services ◦ Education Solutions & Services ◦ David Thompson & Mike Moses (EdSaS) (Thompson & Horton) ◦ Escamilla & Poneck LLP ◦ ◦ George McShan Consulting Walsh Gallegos Law Firm ◦ Haglund Law Firm ◦ Waterford (Jess Butler) ◦ JG Consulting ◦ ESCs ◦ Boards of Trustees Building Relationships w/Search Firms The Initial Visit ◦ Review resume ◦ Talk about potential job paths ◦ Ask them how they operate their search firm ◦ Ask them if there is anything you could do to enhance your leadership portfolio Nurturing that Relationship ◦ Feedback after interviews ◦ Thank you notes after interactions The Superintendent Search… Unlike any other job you’ve ever applied for REGULAR ADMIN JOB SUPERINTENDENT JOB ◦ Resume / Cover Letter ◦ Resume / Cover Letter ◦ Application ◦ Application Package ◦ Interview ◦ Search Firm Screening ◦ Job ◦ Interview ◦ 2nd Interview (with family) ◦ Entry Plan ◦ District Visit ◦ Job Let me take you to lunch… Yes you will be... July – Superintendent Resigned… October September January 2012 1. “I always took a job that was bigger than me.” 2. “Don't sit around and wait for someone to die or retire to get their job.” 3. “Communication is key... Don't let them hear it on the street.” 4. “Integrity is what you bring. Once you lose it, it is gone.” 5. “Our job is to solve all issues before it went to the Board. Buffer your board from emotional decisions that are not their decision to make. It is unfair to lay a decision about cutting Elementary Art at the feet of the Board. Own the decision and make recommendations.” 6. “A superintendent either leads the board into or out of micromanagement…” Re: brick selection: "I don't think we should be making that decision, but if you bring it to me, I will absolutely tell you what I think“ 7. “You can get in trouble by following policy without exception. There is no policy that is perfect or that can apply. If we didn't need judgment, we wouldn't need you.” February March: Gunter ISD Opens Boerne KNOWLEDGE WHAT “head” HOW VALUES & Gunter BELIEFS WHY “heart” 30 Minutes Later… When You Get the Call… . April 24: 1st Interview . April 27th: Notified of 2nd Interview . April 28th: 2nd Interview .Named Lone Finalist on the spot . May 8th: Met the staff . May 21st: Hired as Superintendent . May 29th: Started my First Day The RESUME… Structure: It’s All About Real Estate . Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing . Allocate Bullets Accordingly Content: It’s About Setting Yourself Apart . Be Specific & Results-Oriented . Do Your Research / Highlight the Match Formatting: Keep it Clean & Professional . Font - Professional but not dated . Spacing - Become comfortable with points spacing . Alignment - Make it easier for your reader to view . Email - personal and professional Effectively and efficiently administrate, budget, apply for funds, approve requisition of funds, and submit state and federal compliance reports for the following special programs: Title I Part A, Title II Part A, Title III, Title VI, Migrant, ESL, G/T, ARI/AMI and SSI (when available), CTE (Career Technical Education), State Comp Ed funds audited by Campus Improvement Plans Effectively manage approximately $1 million dollars each year in budgets to maximize opportunities, programs, and equip 21st Century classrooms to enhance student learning Successfully coordinate and work with district business manager. Daily tasks include approving all requisitions and submitting them to superintendent for final approval after all aspects of the request have been checked. Monthly, campus budgets are reviewed. Throughout the year, needs are assessed and plans created to present to the board for upcoming budgets and/or requests to use fund balance. Personnel and their assigned duties are reviewed to ensure payroll costs are charged to appropriate fund sources. Identified adjustments in staffing by reviewing master schedules from all campuses to negate a $400,000 budget shortfall The INTERVIEW… Preparation INTERVIEW TIPS What are 3-4 things you are most proud of? 1. Do Your Homework What kinds of questions 2. Lift the Language could you connect to? Connect your story to the 3. Tell Your Story question to their district. 4. Leave them With Something DOING THE JOB… Purpose - Know your “WHY” Stay Grounded Find an Outlet Understand the cycles Take Respite Be Ready for Anything I didn’t feel like I was ready I didn’t want to move out of the Austin area I didn’t think I would like it I didn’t think I could balance being a mom and a superintendent The Path to Superintendency… QUESTIONS… Jill M. Siler, Ed.D. 106 Whispering Winds l Gunter, TX 75058 l Phone: 512-917-8569 l [email protected] Skills Collaborative Leader & Capacity Builder. Exceptional ability to foster teamwork, to lead from the ground up, and to build leadership capacity throughout the organization. Innovative Instructional Leader. Deep understanding of curriculum, instruction and assessment and the processes necessary to develop tight alignment amongst each to impact student learning. Strategic Thinker & Analyzer. Marked capacity for conceptual thinking to thoughtfully plan for and address complex issues such as budget forecasting, staffing projections, and long-range planning. Professional Experience GUNTER ISD – Gunter ISD, TX 2012-Present Small-School district committed to challenging every student to exceed their own expectations Superintendent Led the district from financial crisis to financial health, decreasing expenditures from $7.8 million in 2011-12 to $6.9 million in 2013-14 and increasing the General Fund Balance from $475,000 in 2012 to $1.8 million in 2016 reaching the state-required minimum for the first time since 2008. Achieved exceptional results on state and national assessments including STAAR and all indicators found in the TAPR (Texas Academic Performance Report), including being named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon school. Launched community-wide Strategic Planning process involving over 300 people focused on innovative learning and preparing future-ready students, preparing for growth, building capacity and student social & emotional health. Facilitated training on curriculum, instruction and assessment and provided instructional planning time for curriculum development. Developed a comprehensive district-wide communication plan including social media program to share exciting successes of Gunter ISD students with over 2,500 followers on Facebook and Twitter. Continued development of Course Catalog for high school and course selection process including a new 6-year planning process involving individual parent meetings for all 8th grade students. Continued building opportunities for college coursework, including 80+ hours of college credit offered on the GHS campus. Also developed a STEM pathway at the high school level with Project Lead the Way engineering and launched a Health Sciences program. Gunter ISD Board of Trustees was honored in 2015 as TASB’s top 5 Texas Honor Boards Current Chair of TASA’s Future-Ready Superintendent Leadership Network, 2015-Present Mentored and coached first time superintendents as a TASA-Certified Mentor Superintendent LAKE TRAVIS ISD – Austin, TX 2004-2012 Fast-Growth 6A “Exemplary” district with nationally-acclaimed success Executive Director of Academic & Organizational Development, 7/2008 to 5/2012 Identified $3.4 million in savings over 4 years from adjustments to secondary schedules, class ratios and efficiencies amongst staffing Collaborated with CFO and HR to develop a tiered approach to statewide budget reductions resulting in 100% retention of staff Facilitated district demographic studies and tracked district enrollment during consecutive years of 6% growth Provided overall instructional leadership resulting in double-digit increases in all