In the latest episode of “Change Starts Here,” podcast host Dustin Odham discussed being in a leadership position in the field of education with educator and author Jill Siler. The two talked about the profession of a superintendent, and all that it entails in being one, including successes and failures.

Siler is the author of “Thrive through the Five,” a book she wrote about the challenges that can come with leadership. Prior to becoming an author, Siler worked in public education for 25 years, first as a paraprofessional, then a teacher, and even a campus leader before transitioning into the superintendent position. She held onto that role for a decade but now supports educational leaders in Texas. She stated, “I love the impact that we all get to have on kids in my profession of education and specifically as a leader getting to support other leaders in their field as they’re trying to do their very best”.

Interestingly, the current passion Siler has for education was almost a missed opportunity. After changing her college major several times, Siler eventually stuck with majoring in politics and philosophy, which she said greatly benefited her superintendent role because it gave her the “ability to think critically about something, and just being savvy about the decisions and the implications and the climate in which you're working in.”

Siler was thrust into the teaching field after a great experience teaching a summer camp and quickly realized her summer job could be turned into a career. Today, she is the Director for Professional Learning for the Texas Association of School Administrators, or TASA, where she helps aspiring superintendents on their journey into the same leadership role she held for a decade.

Being a superintendent is a challenging role and comes with a lot of responsibility. Those duties can be hard on someone and can affect every aspect of their life. However, Siler noted that with good direction, manageability is possible. She added, “When I’m talking to my aspiring leaders…we’re trying to teach about the basics in terms of how to get the job and how to be successful in the job, but we also want to make sure that they're really clear about what they're about to walk into and what that impact is going be on them personally, their family — to make sure that they are ready as a whole person to step in this role.”