Midstates Superintendents Academy

Apply and Join Us

The Academy launches in-person at the Community and Education Leadership Summit in Omaha, Nebraska on June 26-27, 2024.

Then, the Academy meets synchronously online via Zoom September 2024 through March 2025.

Cost: $2,000

(Cost includes Community and Education Leadership Summit registration and all Academy sessions.)

Application link: cehhs.unomaha.edu/EDL-Supt-Academy

Goals of the Academy

The Midstates Superintendent Academy will:

• Lead the way in building the pipeline to the superintendency by working across a five-state region to recruit top candidates for the Academy.
• Seek to increase the pool of diversified candidates for superintendent positions by working directly with school districts to recommend candidates of diversity for the Academy.
• Increase future superintendent leadership capacity across the Midwest by recruiting and selecting qualified applicants into the Academy.
• Develop superintendent-ready candidates so that school districts can recruit and retain high quality superintendents and communities can best be served.

Format

• The course begins with a 2-day Community and Education Leadership Summit June 2024 in Omaha.
• The Academy is comprised of 6 synchronous sessions (Learning Together) and 6 asynchronous (Learning Independently) modules.
• From September through April, participants will meet monthly over Zoom with independent learning between sessions.
• Attendance is essential for successful completion of the program. Participants are expected to attend all sessions unless excused with permission.
• Participants will be assessed throughout and at the end of the course to demonstrate their proficiency on the subject matter. The participants must pass all assessments before receiving the Academy badge.

During the Academy, you will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in the field. These leaders have been successful at leading their districts to some of the highest levels of achievement. The individuals that you will hear from are passionate about education and dedicated to developing the future superintendent talent pipeline.

Earning the Microcredential

After the successful conclusion of this Academy, you will earn a microcredential that can become part of your transcript and your resume. The ability to put down on paper your successful completion of the Superintendent Academy will make you an extremely competitive candidate. The successful completion of the academy is measured by the successful completion of required demonstrations of understanding.

The micro-credential is a unique component of the Academy because it serves as badge that is earned by your ability to demonstrate the knowledge gained and the skills developed. This Academy goes beyond just hearing the information. The Academy is here to up-skill your abilities and the awarded credential communicates to Boards of Education and Search entities that you have prepared yourself and demonstrated excellence.

Each demonstration of understanding (assignment) that you are asked to complete is worth one point. Successful completers of the Academy will earn a minimum of 90% of the points. It is my expectation that each participant earns 100% of the available points. There is not room to short yourself from any of the experiences the Academy offers.

Expectations

• Attend the Community & Education Leadreship Summit in Omaha, NE, June 26-27, 2024.
• Attend all online sessions.
• Complete all requested assignments on time.
• Fully engage with speakers and presenters.
• Participate in group discussion and discussion boards.
• Keep a private journal or running record of thoughts and personal next steps.

Meet Your Facilitator

Dr. Jim Sutfin began his career in education in 1989 as a science teacher with the Bellevue Public Schools. While serving the Bellevue Public Schools, Dr. Sutfin not only taught English and Biology, but he also served as Student Council sponsor as well as assistant coach in football and track. During the 1994-95 school year, Dr. Sutfin was honored as the Bellevue East Rotary Teacher of the Year and Phi Delta Kappa Showcase Teacher. Dr. Sutfin was a coach of four state championship track teams during his time in the Bellevue Public Schools.

In the fall of 1995, Dr. Sutfin moved to Millard West High School as an Advanced Placement Biology teacher, Student Council sponsor, and assistant track coach. He later served as the science department head before moving to Russell Middle School as Assistant Principal. After serving three years as Assistant Principal, Dr. Sutfin was promoted to Principal at Central Middle School. He served in this capacity for five years earning the Region II Principal of the Year Award in 2006.

Dr. Sutfin moved to the Central Office in 2006 as the Director of Human Resources and was promoted to the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources three years later. As the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Dr. Sutfin oversaw all aspects of Human Resources as well as the District Activity, Staff Development and Student Services programs. In the spring of 2014, Dr. Sutfin was selected as Millard’s Superintendent. In 2020 Dr. Sutfin was named the Nebraska Superintendent of the Year, and in 2022 he was named a Distinguished Alumni by his Alma mater the University of Nebraska Omaha.

Dr. Sutfin retired from public education after serving 33 years. He currently serves on multiple boards and works as an independent consultant serving organizations in the areas of workforce development, leadership development, conflict resolution, and professional learning. To this day, Dr. Sutfin remains passionate about helping communities support and develop our most precious resource — our people.