5 Ways School Districts Can Create Successful Community Partnerships

The Key to Building Community as a Superintendent? Leading with Authenticity

Superintendents are often seen as administrators or decision-makers, yet the reality of their work is far more complex and deeply human. Throughout our conversations with superintendents, one theme remains clear: the importance of humanizing this critical role. In this series, we pose a vital question: How can we better understand superintendents as real people navigating complex challenges to provide the best possible education for K-12 students? To explore this, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Adam Clark, Superintendent of Mount Diablo Unified School District. His journey from an elementary school teacher to leading a district with 29,000 students and 3,800 employees sheds light on the immense responsibility and rewards of the superintendency.

Leadership, Innovation, and Humanity in Education

Leadership at Scale: Meet Dr. Randy MahlerweinIn our latest episode, we were joined by Dr. Randy Mahlerwein, Assistant Superintendent at Mesa Public Schools, the largest school district in Arizona. With decades of experience spanning roles from junior high math teacher to district leader, Dr. Mahlerwein shared how his leadership philosophy is reshaping public education. From the outset, his journey was marked by a commitment to creating meaningful change. Starting as a teacher, Dr. Mahlerwein quickly rose through the ranks to assistant principal, principal, and eventually assistant superintendent. Today, he leads over 26,000 students in Mesa.

Humanizing the Superintendency: A Call to Action

In all of our conversations with K-12 superintendents, one theme continues to emerge: the critical need to humanize the role of the superintendent. As the leaders at the helm of our nation’s school districts, superintendents face complex challenges, from navigating political scrutiny to fostering equity and inclusion. But behind the title and the responsibilities lies a simple truth—superintendents are people too. This is the focus of our new podcast series, Build Momentum for Education, where Dr. Susan Enfield, a veteran superintendent and educational leader, shared her insights on the trials, triumphs, and transformative potential of the superintendency.