Recently retired superintendents offer advice for the next generation of district leaders

We asked a panel of recently retired superintendents what they wish they had known when they started on the job, and what brief advice they would offer for the next generation of district leaders. Here's what they said.Ken Wallace

Ken Wallace, retired in 2024 after 15 years at Maine Township High School District 207 Illinois, and now a partner at Student Centered Services.

Wallace, who was the longest-serving superintendent in Maine Township history, urges new leaders to deeply understand their “why.” Leadership, he insists, is not about personal legacy but about service to students, communities, and educational equity.

Wallace calls for a radical redesign of schools to match the reality of today’s economy, in which fewer jobs require four-year degrees and many fall between high school and two years of training. For Wallace, the future of school leadership lies in understanding the economy students are entering and building systems that support work-based learning and individual student strengths. “Today’s leader must be persuasive, informed, and nimble. Education redesign is coming. Be ready.”Jill Gildea

Jill Gildea, retired in 2025 after serving 7 years at Park City School District, Utah, and now CEO of Colorado Early Colleges.

Despite having previously served as an assistant superintendent, Gildea found the superintendent role to be an entirely different challenge when she stepped into the role. She remembers experiencing a steep learning curve, particularly when it came to contract negotiations, sociopolitical dynamics, and community engagement.

Her biggest piece of advice is to prioritize communication. “People want context, particularly post-pandemic. If they don’t understand the ‘why’ behind a decision, misinformation spreads,” she says. Gildea also stresses the need for early relationship-building, transparency, and having the humility to move at the pace the community can handle.

Jerri KembleJerri Kemble, retired in 2020 after more than 30 years in education including serving 7 years as assistant superintendent at Lawrence Public Schools, Kansas, and now National Academic Officer, Podcaster, and Evangelist at ClassLink.

For Kemble, early-career pressure to “have all the answers” was intense, especially as a female leader in male-dominated Kansas school systems. Her advice to new superintendents is to let go of perfection, seek mentorship, and embrace vulnerability.

 “Show up. Listen. Don’t try to save anyone,” she says. “You’re there to serve the community, not fix it.” She champions empowerment over control, encouraging new leaders to coach others into leadership rather than owning every solution themselves.

Scott Muri, retired in 2025 after 36 years in education including 9 years as superintendent of Ector County ISD and Spring Branch ISD, Texas, and now faculty, The Forum for Educational Leadership.

Scott Muri

Muri is a proponent of “going slow to go fast.” Listening and strategic planning lead to more effective and sustainable transformation, and Muri believes that flexibility in leadership style is crucial, even if that means abandoning personal preferences to meet the district’s immediate needs.

One of his key insights is to know which problems are worth solving. “You don’t have to put out every fire,” he says. “Some need to burn for the sake of long-term progress.”

He emphasizes alignment across vision, strategy, and execution, and suggests leaders compensate for personal weaknesses through strong teams and systems.

Lisa AndrejkoLisa Andrejko, retired June 2014 after serving 7 years at Quakertown Community School District, Pennsylvania, and now Director of Education Strategy at Powerschool.

“While curriculum and budgeting may come naturally to many leaders, navigating local politics is often the steepest challenge,” says Andrejko. “And they don’t teach you that.”

“If it’s good for kids, we do it” is the mantra Andrejko says she lived by, but she acknowledges that not all stakeholders share that North Star. Her advice is to build coalitions, involve teacher unions early, and establish transparency in every decision.

She also stresses collaboration beyond education: “You’re using taxpayer money. Be honest with business partners and work together.”John Garcia

John Garcia, retiring in July 2025 after serving 12 years at Downey Unified School District, California.

Garcia, retiring from his hometown district, describes the superintendent role as both “amazing” and “all-consuming.” For those ready to lead, he advises entering with eyes wide open and a strong personal and family commitment.

His most important leadership lesson is wisdom over correctness. “Being right is far less important than being wise,” he says. Garcia urges superintendents to build a professional network and roundtable of diverse experts, especially when launching new initiatives.

Ellen Ullman is a freelance writer and contributor to DATIA K12.