Aspiring Superintendents Academy
TASA’s Aspiring Superintendents Academy is a must-attend for those who aspire to become superintendents. Held in conjunction with the TASA Midwinter Conference, the academy offers nearly 14 hours of content (over the course of the four-day conference) that focuses on both how to get the job and how to be successful in the job, plus more than 26 sitting superintendents and representatives from 14 search firms.
About the Academy
Topics
During the Aspiring Superintendents Academy, you will cover:
- the calling of this work
- the path to the superintendency
- development of a résumé and entry plan
- interview preparation
- navigating search firms
- navigating superintendent contracts
- governance and board relations
- thriving in the first year
Format
With presentations, discussions, and Q&A sessions with both new and seasoned superintendents, presentations from the state’s leading search firms, along with hands-on activities around the content necessary for you to get and succeed in the job, an online repository of sample résumés, entry plans and résumé questions, the academy is poised to provide aspiring superintendents with a one-of-a-kind experience that includes nearly 14 hours of professional learning in preparation for the superintendency.
2024 Academy Highlights
- Opening speaker: Roosevelt Nivens, Lamar CISD Superintendent
- Fireside chat with TASA President LaTonya Goffney and TASA President-Elect Martha Salazar-Zamora about their paths to the superintendency
- Crash course on résumé development followed by a peer-reviewed résumé activity
- Live, on-stage job interview with a superintendent and a feedback/coaching session
- Built-in time for 1:1 discussions with the major search firms
- Expertise from 45 speakers, including 14 search firms and 26 sitting superintendents
- Closing Speaker: Thad Roher, Friendswood ISD Superintendent
More 2024 Speakers
Laurelyn Arterbury, New Braunfels ISD | Bonnie Avey, Seagraves ISD | Shaun Barnett, Powell Law Group, LLP | Kevin Brown, TASA Executive Director | Kristin Brown, Lake Dallas ISD | Keith Bryant, Lubbock-Cooper ISD | Eddie Coulson, N2 Learning | Rhonda Crass, Leasor Crass, P.C. | Ann Dixon, Educational Consultant | Stephanie Elizalde, Dallas ISD | Travis Fanning, Beeville ISD | Angela Fitzpatrick, Karnak ISD | Carnelius Gilder, West Sabine ISD | James Guerra, JG Consulting | Cory Hartsfield, Cory Hartsfield Law, PC | Tory Hill, Channelview ISD | George Kazanas, TASB Executive Search Services | Ronnie Kincaid, Educational Consultant | Jim Largent, Hazard, Young, Attea Associates | Jeannie Meza-Chavez, San Elizario ISD | Sheryl Moore, Leon/Alcala, PLLC | Chris Moran, San Angelo ISD | Mason Moses, TCG | Bobby Ott, Temple ISD | Teddy Ott, Three Way ISD | Devin Padavil, Georgetown ISD | Megan Pape, Snook ISD | Raul Pena, Hutto ISD | Nicole Poenitzsch, Bellville ISD | Shawn Pratt, McKinney ISD | Brent Ringo, Kerrville ISD | Mark Ruffin, Normangee ISD | Shelly Slaughter, Cumby ISD | Quintin Shepherd, Victoria ISD | Tiffany Spicer, Buna ISD | Bill Tarleton, Education Solutions and Services | David Thompson, Thompson & Horton | Georgeanne Warnock, Terrell ISD | Doug Williams, TASA Executive Superintendent
Academy Leader
Jill Siler
Jill Siler served as the superintendent of Gunter ISD from 2012 to 2021, when she joined the full-time TASA staff as deputy executive director, professional learning.
Prior to joining the TASA staff, she chaired TASA’s Future-Ready Superintendent Leadership Network (FRSLN) Design Team, which brings together innovative leaders from across the state to learn, share, and grow together. She was also a member of the TASA 2025 Task Force, which helped launch the redesign of this academy.
Jill has a passion for helping others reach their goals and has been a frequent speaker at TASA’s Aspiring Superintendent Academy and First-Time Superintendents Academy, as well as the Texas Council of Women School Executives (TCWSE) Annual Conference and other leadership conferences.
She published her first book in 2020, focused on thriving through the most difficult moments of leadership. Her writing and other resources helpful to aspiring leaders can be found at jillmsiler.com.
What They’re Saying About the Aspiring Superintendents Academy
The Aspiring Superintendents Academy was amazing! All of the presenters were spot on! It helped that they seemed to truly care about my progression into the role of a superintendent. I was able to reflect after the completion of each session and think about how it corresponded to what I needed to do to refine my skills as a leader and an aspiring superintendent. Dr. Siler and her team developed an academy that was relevant, engaging, and inspiring. If you want to serve as a superintendent this academy is a must!
Attending the Aspiring Superintendents Academy year after year allows me to see, hear, and imagine my potential and that of those in my networks for this type of service in education. Though I have no immediate plans to be a superintendent, I believe it’s wise to share a space with others who are actively pursuing it in order to grow leadership capacity, understanding, practices, and networks. Besides, where else do you have the opportunity to learn from this many superintendents in one room, right? This truly is a must-do at any point of your career. I cannot recommend it enough.
2024 Aspiring Superintendents Academy Sponsors
CPE Hours
The Aspiring Superintendents Academy offers nearly 14 hours of Continuing Professional Education credit.
