If you’re a school leader who still believes you can rise to the top without engaging in politics—think again.
In a recent episode of the Voices for Excellence podcast, host Dr. Michael Conner sat down with Dr. Kristi Wilson, past president of AASA and former Arizona Superintendent of the Year, to unpack one of the most uncomfortable truths in education leadership today: the superintendent role is no longer just about teaching and learning—it’s a political job now.
So the question becomes: Can you still lead without playing politics?
The answer, according to both Dr. Conner and Dr. Wilson, is a clear and resounding: No. Not anymore.
Leadership Has Changed—Have We?
For decades, the measure of a strong education leader was built around instruction, vision, and student outcomes. Today, those responsibilities remain—but they’re no longer enough. Boards, communities, and public expectations have shifted. Leading a district now means navigating public opinion, advocacy groups, legislative interference, and highly politicized environments.
Ignoring this reality doesn’t make it go away. It just makes leaders vulnerable.
What was once a job centered on learning systems and operational excellence now includes messaging strategies, political timing, and reading the mood of a divided public. Superintendents are being held accountable not just for academic progress, but for how well they manage a rapidly changing cultural and political landscape.
The Politics You Can’t Opt Out Of
Let’s be clear: political leadership isn’t about running for office. It’s about navigating influence. Every decision—from curriculum adoptions to mask mandates, school openings to book selections—is now loaded with political implications.
And whether leaders see themselves as political or not, their work is being politicized.
Refusing to engage with this layer of leadership doesn’t mean staying neutral—it means being unprepared. It means being out of sync with the very forces shaping the future of your district. If you don’t engage, someone else will—on your behalf, and likely without your vision in mind.
Redefining the Skill Set
So what does it take to lead effectively in this new reality?
It takes more than just courage or charisma. It requires a new skill set—one that blends emotional intelligence with governance fluency, strategic communication, and an understanding of how public perception shapes policy.
Just as instructional leadership once demanded knowledge of pedagogy, assessment, and curriculum, political leadership demands its own set of competencies. Things like:
- Strategic messaging: Knowing how to communicate complex decisions in a way that builds trust and clarity.
- Stakeholder alignment: Bringing diverse voices together around a shared vision, even when there’s disagreement.
- Navigating public scrutiny: Leading decisively while managing pushback from all sides.
These aren’t “extra” skills. They’re essential tools for anyone leading at scale in public education today.
The Personal Cost of Avoidance
Avoiding the political dimensions of the role doesn’t just hurt strategy—it impacts sustainability. The rising burnout among superintendents is no coincidence. When leaders feel unprepared for the real job they’re doing, the stress becomes unsustainable.
This isn’t just about workload—it’s about misalignment between expectations and reality. Many leaders enter the role with a focus on kids, curriculum, and community improvement—only to find themselves overwhelmed by agendas, board dynamics, and external pressures they never signed up for.
What’s needed is a mindset shift: leadership in education is political now—and that’s not inherently a bad thing. When done with integrity, political leadership can amplify impact, protect student interests, and build stronger, more informed communities.
The Role of Mentorship and Support
Thriving in this space requires more than personal resilience. It requires networks.
Leaders need people outside their districts who can offer honest feedback, fresh perspectives, and real-time support.
They also need space for reflection—on their boundaries, their wellness, and their own sustainability. Being a superintendent today means making peace with the fact that you can’t do everything. You have to prioritize, delegate, and build leadership capacity across your team.
And yes, you have to learn to lead politically—with intention, not fear.
So, Can You Lead Without Playing Politics?
In 2025? Not really. Not if you want to be effective.
But engaging in politics doesn’t mean losing yourself or playing games. It means understanding the forces that shape your work—and leading through them instead of around them.
The path forward isn’t about resisting change. It’s about equipping leaders with the tools to meet it head-on, with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
And for the next generation of school leaders, that might just be the most important lesson of all.
