(Published with permission)

“I enjoyed the diversity of the presenters over the four day Transition to Superintendency Program. They each had varying perspectives on the superintendency. The information they provided was always useful. THe handouts will be a great resource over the next few months in my superintendency. I like that I have information that is immediately applicable to my work in the superintendency. I appreciate how all the information was condensed into useable formats.”
Susan Hodun, Superintendent, Miller Place UF School District

“The Transition to Superintendency Program was extremely informative. All the materials were great and the presenters were knowledgeable. THe contacts I made in our cohort will be part of my new network. All of the presenters were open were open to being called upon to help my career decisions. By the time you leave the TSP you have a wonderful pool of friends and professional resources to help when you enter the superintendency”
Michele Gill French, PreK-12Assistant Principal, North WArren Central School District

“The Transition to Superintendency Program was one of the most enriched and rewarding learning experiences for me, both professionally and personally. It provided a unique opportunity to identify my “key questions” to ask as I explored the required knowledge base and skill sets needed to succeed as a school district leader. I was extremely impressed by the honesty and open sharing of successful initiatives and practices provided by the guest Superintendents and associates. I highly recommend this most valuable experience for all school leaders regardless of their current level of training for the superintendency.”
Brenda Williams, Ed.D., Elementary Principal, Uniondale UF School District

“The Transition to Superintendency Program is exemplary. The sessions are provocative and forces one to think, act and then reflect with courage. Courage is not something that can be taught and being a great leader requires courage and so much more. The path to the superintendency is filled with ups and downs, and this workshop taught me to expect the unexpected, to see the unseen, and to always be true to who you are because in the end the impact you have on the lives of children is the legacy you leave behind. It is up to us as educational leaders to determine that legacy. I plan to take the superintendency journey with courage and integrity. Thank you Dr. Merrins and the many facilitators that assisted us during this training.”
Nichelle Rivers, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent, Troy City School District

“An eye opening experience! Four days of learning, sharing, and productivity on how to be an effective, insirational, superintendent leader. The materials, the resources, and the presenters guided us through a complex process. Great job!”
Edwin Quezada, High School Principal, Lincoln High School, Yonkers Public Schools

“This is a must for any administrator who is considering the position of Superintendent of Schools…. Make the first decision in your quest for the Superintendency a wise one, get enrolled in this program.”
Chris Boshnack, Principal, Northstar Academy

“One of the best (if not the best) training’s I’ve ever attended. All of the presenters were outstanding. They were knowledgeable and engaging, and provided real-life hands on information and advise. I highly recommend this program to anyone with an eye towards the superintendency.”
Jim Gratto, Middle School Principal, Saranac Central Schools

“I thought I was ready. I thought I had prepared myself to be a Superintendent….until I attended the eight sessions [four days] of the Transition to Superintendency Program. I have now taken a critical step in my preparation.”
Kaine Kelly, K-12 Principal, Sherman Central Schools

“The Transition to Superintendency Program gives participants a clear view and understanding of what a superintendent of schools does. Taking this four day workshop gives aspiring and entering superintendents the best possible chance of success!”
Anael Alston, Secondary Principal, Glen Cove City Schools

“The Transition to Superintendency Program was a wonderful opportunity to begin to explore all the areas of the superintendency. THe presenters were excellent. I completed the program with a much greater understanding of the role and greater respect for the position.”
Don Bavis, Principal, Penfield Central Schools

“I learned so much during the four days of the Transition to Superintendency Program. I don’t know what my next career move will be, or when it will happen, but I have a “To do” list after being at these sessions. I know where my skill set is in line and what I need to do to line up the rest of my skills. I know what things to get more training on and experience with, and I know what kinds of things to finish now so when the time comes, I am ready for my first superintendency. I enjoyed meeting the other people, being in the company of successful superintendents, and sorting through the helpful information. I am so glad I participated in the program.”
Penny Harrington, Pre-K-12 Principal, Richfield Springs Central Schools

“The Transition to Superintendency Program is a great way to learn about becoming a Superintendent of Schools. The presenters were extremely knowledgeable and shared stories that provide me with a great deal to to consider. I enjoyed meeting colleagues fro across the state, and sharing thoughts and opinions about the challenges of becoming a superintendent.”
Scott Read, Principal, Oakfield-Alabama Central Schools

“One reason to participate in this program is to determine your readiness for the superintendency. I learned I wanted to leave my options open, waiting for the right district.
I enjoyed and learned a great deal from the outstanding presenters, as they shared their experiences. I enjoyed the career stories and examples. It is a very collegial environment; to ask questions I was always afraid to ask. There were many opportunities for me to reflect on my personal beliefs, values and norms. This was externally important and something I never have time to do during my busy professional life.”
Debra Winter, Assistant Superintendent, Longwood Central Schools

“The Transition to Superintendency Program sessions were informative and educational. The wealth of knowledge gleamed during these sessions was timely. I now have a “survival kit” to refer to when I become a Superintendent of Schools.”
Rodney Gilmore, Ed.D. – Principal, Hempstead Public Schools

“This program reaffirmed for me the power of the superintendency. Each of the presenters were excellent. Each brought a different prospective of the job. The materials I received will be valuable to me in my quest towards the superintendency.”
Denise Lowe, Ed.D. – Assistant Superintendent, Central Islip UF Schools

“The Transition to the Superintendency Program is by far the best professional development that I have participated in as an administrator. The candid discussions and information provided by practitioners in the field ,as well as the high level of content, has been for me a valuable tool in my administrative journey. Along with providing the associates with a wealth of materials and practical knowledge, there is time for reflection and questions regarding the superintendent position. Every topic discussed from developing a leadership platform ,to board and community relations, and budget development is relevant to school administration, to the superintendency and to the field of education. Participating in this program has led me to participate in the Superintendent Development Program. I highly recommend the TSP to anyone seeking information about the Superintendency.”
NancyJean Osborn – Elementary School Principal, Byron-Bergen Central Schools

“I completed the Transition to Superintendency Program in 2007. At that time I was seriously considering moving from my current position as a building principal into a superintendent position. This course was extremely informative and helped me to decide that I am not willing to make the sacrifices necessary at this time. I had been struggling with that decision for over a year, and it was a huge relief to settle back into my current position with a renewed sense of purpose.

“The course helped me understand district politics, budgets, the Board of Education and community dynamics in a comprehensive way. I have been in the education field for over 20 years, and this program was one of the best professional development experiences in all that time. I do believe that it prepared me to make a much more informed career decision and I will certainly come back to the program when I am ready to apply for a superintendent position.”
Aviva Kafka – Elementary School Principal, Hyde Park Central Schools

“The Transition to Superintendency Program was the best program I’ve attended in the last twenty years. It gave me true insights on how the Superintendency works. It made me a better principal.”
Reginald “Reggie” Stroughn – High School Principal, Hempstead Union Free Schools
2008 New York State Principal of the Year (SAANYS and AASA)

“The Transition to Superintendency Program was an outstanding way to explore the superintendency. A diverse group of Superintendents from across New York State shared their expertise and experiences. Their information, dialogue and candid conversations, gave prospective superintendents a genuine feel for the superintendency. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to explore the superintendency.”
Kimberle Ward, High School Principal, Union Springs Central School
Sponsored and administered by
Educational Leadership Institute
New York State Association for Women in Administration
James M. Merrins, Ed.D., Executive Program Administrator

Contact James Merrins, Ed.D.
Executive Program Administrator
Comments, corrections, source documents, and questions welcome