I have now been in my new role as a Superintendent of Education here in Grand Erie for just over two months. Many people have asked me about the transition, and I can truly say it has been wonderful.
Educators, support staff, system staff and trustees have been incredibly welcoming. Individuals have taken time to share advice, provide important organizational context, or reached out simply
to introduce themselves and offer support. I am very excited about the work ahead and hope the contributions I will make will support students, staff, families and the organization.
Of course, there is still much for me to learn. This is one of the true gifts of working in a learning organization. Learning is always all around us. It is not unlike when I started each September as a classroom teacher, a literacy coach, an
administrator or a learning supervisor. My first goals were always to genuinely understand the students and the staff  I would be supporting and to learn about their strengths as individuals and then the organization, of which we were a part. As a Superintendent now, really nothing has changed in that mandate for me.  I still want to find out what people define as important, what they are challenged by and how I can support their growth and help them overcome any obstacles that might be in their way.

Making a transition also comes with some challenges. Starting something new means leaving behind the comfort of what is known, as well as the experiences and connections established with the students and staff with whom I had previously worked. A positive part of this new transition is the profound pride I feel, when reflecting on the relationships that were formed and the goals that were accomplished in the past. I have been afforded so many opportunities in my career thus far and I credit the many people who have helped shape who I am today as a learner, as a leader and yes, even as a person. A special thank you to you all.

Another positive aspect of moving into this new role of superintendent is that I know I will carry forward what I have learned from each past interaction and individual, using these insights to have a positive impact on student achievement and well being. Having different experiences in my educational journey has confirmed for me, over and over again, that there are many facets of the education system to learn about, often in ways that I had not anticipated. And that is why learning together as a team is vital.

I will admit it was easier for me to blog as a principal when parents were my main audience. I have hesitated to blog too much in this system role because, misguided or not, I sometimes feel people expect me to be the expert and that is not a great feeling.  If you have ever blogged you know there is a certain vulnerability in putting your ideas into a public space; a vulnerability and a commitment.  Once you get to know me you will know “expert” is not a word I would ever use to define myself, but I do know I am someone who will always listen, always consider the different sides to an issue and then even consult others before final decisions are made.

So, let’s start the conversation. In my experience working at the system level, I find that staff  (whether Board staff, school staff or the various support staff) truly want to make decisions relevant to students, educators, schools and families. For example, the recent rolling out of the Parent Portal across the district provides a single digital access point for families and ensures the safety and privacy of student information. That decision was a team decision and it took many different personnel to make it happen. #workingtogether

I look forward to sharing more about my learning journey in future posts and I invite you to have a conversation with me here on my blog or at my Twitter account @LisaMunro11  If you have a personal blog or even a class blog please let me know. I would love to follow you and read about your ideas and adventures.  I truly hope you know we are on this journey together.

Lisa ……