How Do I Become a District Superintendent?

It takes a lot of effort and planning to become a district superintendent of schools in the United States. You will need significant higher education and a great deal of career experience in education. In many cases, you will have to interview with a school board to be selected as a district superintendent, so a mentor who can help you understand what will be required of you can be helpful. You also need to be able to handle what can be a highly stressful job.

If you want to become a district superintendent, then you will need at least a master's degree, preferably in education. Some school districts require that the superintendent has a doctor of philosophy degree in education. School superintendents are in charge of many of the business aspects of managing the school district, so classes in business administration are often a good idea to add to your educational program. Classes that prepare you for delivering speeches and handling media relations also may be good choices, because the superintendent is often a school district's representative to the media and the public.

Experience in the education field also is required to become a district superintendent. Many superintendents started out as teachers, often at the elementary or middle school level, though some prefer to teach at the secondary level. It can be a good idea to first seek a position as a school principal so you can gain extra experience in administration.

When you want to become a district superintendent, you need to be ready for strong competition. The position is one that is often highly sought after. To become a district superintendent, you will have to go before the school board. You will need to present yourself in the best possible light before the people who will vote to decide who will be the superintendent.

To fully understand the requirements of a being a district superintendent, you may want to look for a mentor. Mentors can help you find others who can provide valuable networking and educational opportunities. A mentor can give you advice about being a superintendent that you will not receive in the classroom. There are both informal and formal mentors, and formal mentors often require payment for their services.

In making the decision to become a district superintendent, you need to make sure you are able to handle a great deal of stress. You will be in charge of making the decisions that will affect everyone in your school district. Many of those decisions may be unpopular, and you will have to be able to handle the criticism from the public and the media.