How challenges, experiences shape superintendents of color
NEW ORLEANS — “It doesn’t matter what I brought to the table in terms of preparation. In the eyes of some, I’m just gonna be ill-equipped.”
That sentiment, expressed by Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero, sums up the double standards he says education leaders of color face regularly.
“Double standards are so, so, so real, and you all need to accept that,” Marrero told a packed session this month at the annual conference of AASA, The School Superintendents Association.
Let ‘em see you sweat: The illusion of effortlessness
I spent years perfecting an illusion. The illusion that everything was effortless — that I had it all under control. That I could take on any task with a breezy “sure, no problem” and deliver flawlessly.
Perhaps it was because I was often in roles for which I wasn’t fully prepared, and I thought making it look easy would inspire confidence. Or maybe it was the external validation — the praise that came from appearing competent without visible effort. Whatever the reason, I got good at minimizing the struggle to make hard things look simple. And once the habit was ingrained, even when I did feel competent, I continued the pattern of downplaying what it took to make things happen.
3.2.1: On the secret to youth, how to achieve what you want, and the challenge of being yourself
3 Ideas From Me
I.
“The person who experiences the consequences should make the decision.”
II.
“You are as old as the risks you take. In many ways, aging is not the process of growing old, but rather the slow death of becoming overly protective, scared, and worried about losing what you have. Youth is found in the energy of going for it, taking the risk, and trusting that you’ll figure it out along the way.”
3 Special Sessions offered at the State Summer Leadership Summit
We are thrilled to offer three exclusive special sessions designed to enhance and strengthen leadership skills: ✅ Preparing for an Executive-Level Position Join us for an exclusive, power-packed special session […]
TALAS Summer Leadership Summit will be in El Paso!
Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (TALAS)State Summer Leadership Summit Theme: “Elevating Your Voice Through ACTions and LEADership”Dates: Friday, May 16, 2025, and Saturday, May 17, 2025 […]
3-2-1: On the secret to self control, how to live longer, and what holds people back
I.
“There are two ways to live a longer life:
1) Biologically. Extend the timeline between your birth and your death.
2) Psychologically. Fit more lives into whatever time you are given.
Make each decade rich with experiences and perhaps you can live a handful of lives before you are done.”
II.
“Think about self-control less as the quality of a person and more as the quality of a place. There are some places and situations that lean toward lower self-control and others that lean toward higher self-control. Self-control is about your context as much as your character. Put yourself in good positions.”
TALAS Summer Leadership Summit will be in El Paso!
Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (TALAS)State Summer Leadership Summit Theme: “Elevating Your Voice Through ACTions and LEADership”Dates: Friday, May 16, 2025, and Saturday, May 17, 2025 […]
3.2.1: Four questions for life, how to learn like a child, and seeing things in a generous way
I.
“Spend today interpreting whatever people do in the most generous way. See if you feel better as a result.”
II.
“Your teaching ability is constrained by your writing ability.
If you can’t write it down, it will be nearly impossible to teach it well.”
III.
“Four questions that can tell you a lot:
When you wake up, do you expect today to have many joys or many frustrations?
When presented with an opportunity, do you have a bias toward action or do you postpone decisions?
When things go well for others, do you enjoy cheering them on or do you hate to hear about their success?
When things go wrong, do you believe it is your responsibility to improve the situation or do you blame others?”
5 Ways to Express Empathy Like a Leader
Feeling bad isn’t always bad. Stretching yourself creates uncertainty. Tough issues cause discomfort. Learning new skills calls for courage.
The purpose of empathy is empowerment.
Destructive empathy:
Hinders self-reliance.
Lowers standards.
Blocks progress.
Accepts blame-shifting.
Promotes irresponsibility.
Focuses on weakness.
Reinforces avoidance.
TALAS Summer Leadership Summit will be in El Paso!
Call for Proposals Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (TALAS)State Summer Leadership Summit Theme: “Elevating Your Voice Through ACTions and LEADership”Dates: Friday, May 16, 2025, and Saturday, May 17, […]
