Dr. Chris Kilbride Shares Thoughts on the Pearce Award and School Leadership
Dr. Chris Kilbride: Thoughts on the Pearce Award and School Leadership
Dr. Chris Kilbride receives the 2024 Pearce Award
from MASA President, Jenny Ulrich
Dr. Chris Kilbride, Superintendent of the Ritenour School District, is the 2024 MASA Pearce Award recipient. We asked Dr. Kilbride to share his thoughts on the award and finding success in school leadership.
What does it mean for you to receive the Pearce Award?
I was humbled to be nominated at the regional level as I have such respect for my colleagues. As leaders, we stay focused on the work at hand and rarely take the time to stop and reflect on progress made. The application process for the award caused me to take a moment to reflect on the past five years in the Ritenour School District. Through that reflection, I came to the realization that we have the right people in the right places to have significant positive impact on our children and our community.
I can’t do this work alone. This award is validation for the amazing work being done by all Ritenour staff members Every Day.
If you were to give a person new to the superintendency one bit of advice, what would it be?
In the work of the superintendent, I have found that slower is faster. While there is always a high degree of urgency in our work, taking time to contemplate and think through a variety of perspectives always generates the best outcomes.
Superintendents must always recognize the desire of various constituencies to have input in decisions. While the leader is ultimately charged with making decisions, working through a process “with” as opposed to doing work “to” or “for” will ensure a level of stability in the organization.
To what do you attribute your success as a superintendent?
All success we’ve experienced as a district is due the efforts of our entire community. Being humble as a leader is a critical attribute. This work can’t be done alone, it takes our entire community to propel us forward.
We have all heard the saying “There is no ‘I’ in team.” Another perspective that reinforces that notion is “The ‘I’ in ‘leadership” is near the end. It’s the collaboration, dedication and hard work of our administrators, teachers, staff, students, families, and community members that helps us become successful.
Without the continued support and commitment of the entire Ritenour community, any success or achievements would not be possible.
How have you developed a network of people you trust for good counsel?
Over time, I have come to recognize that various leaders across the state of Missouri possess various skills that I do not. As leaders, we must realize that we don’t need to have all of the answers all of the time. Being vulnerable and accessing the amazing leadership community that exists in Missouri reinforces the notion that our work is all about kids.
I have yet to find a member of the educational leadership community in Missouri who is not willing to share their time or thinking. This was critical to my survival as a new superintendent and remains important to my continued growth and development as a veteran leader.