One of the most impactful moments of this conference for me was attending the Pacific Northwest superintendent gathering with superintendents and leaders from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. We had the privilege of hearing from our states' superintendents of the year who talked about their success. A common theme was the importance of mentors and the age-old truth that none of us succeed alone. George Mendoza, Oregon's Superintendent of the Year, and Michelle Whitney, Washington State's Superintendent of the Year, both centered their remarks on the transformative power of mentorship, and their words resonated deeply with me as an earlier career superintendent.
Honoring Those Who Came Before Us
George Mendoza's tribute to Dr. Gustavo Balderas (2020 National Superintendent of the Year) was moving. He spoke about how Dr. Balderas mentored him along the path to becoming a superintendent and then helped him navigate the complexities of the role itself. It's funny because I feel similarly about Dr. Balderas. He is an extraordinary leader who listens well and is generous with his time and support (and he's coming back to Washington State as the superintendent of the Puget Sound Educational Service District!). It was a powerful reminder that even our most impactful leaders didn't get there on their own; they had someone who believed in them, spoke confidence into them, promoted them, and walked alongside them through successes and setbacks. Superintendent Mendoza's success story is not just his own; it's a testament to the investment Dr. Balderas made in him.
Mentorship as a Ripple Effect
Michelle Whitney, a leader I look up to, added another dimension to the importance of mentorship. When she accepted her recognition as Washington State's Superintendent of the Year, she didn't claim the honor for herself alone. Instead, she honored every teacher and educator who has mentored or believed in students, especially those students who have faced significant obstacles in their lives. Superintendent Whitney's message was clear: she stands where she is today because adults believed in her, wouldn't let her give up on herself, and invested in her when she needed it most. Her success is proof that mentorship creates a ripple effect; when we invest in one person, we're investing in all the lives they will touch throughout their career.
The Complexity of Our Jobs Demands Community
The superintendent role is extraordinarily complex, more so now than ever before. I heard that AASA led a session on a study they did that shows that the superintendency has shifted from a focus on instruction or operations to one focused on budgets and politics. Man, does that resonate with me. More than ever, superintendents like me find ourselves spending a large portion of our time navigating declining budgets and political division – two areas we didn't necessariy go into education for. With the challenges we face today, no one can do this work in isolation. Having someone come alongside you, whether they're an experienced superintendent who has weathered similar storms, or someone from a completely different field who brings fresh perspective and great listening skills, is not just helpful, it's essential to our success. And our success directly translates into success for the students we serve.
Gratitude and Intentionality
As NCE 2026 winds down, I am leaving filled with gratitude for the mentors who have come alongside me in my own journey as superintendent of Bellevue School District. You know who you are. You've listened when I needed to process difficult decisions. You've challenged me when I needed to think differently. You've encouraged me when the work felt overwhelming. You've celebrated with me when we achieved important milestones. Thank you for being part of my story and, by extension, part of the story of every student in Bellevue.
Let's be intentional about mentorship. Let's take the time to be mentors to others, and let's give ourselves the gift of being mentored by others. Whether we're supporting students, teachers, principals, or fellow superintendents, we have the power to change trajectories through the simple act of believing in someone and investing in their growth. And when we let someone mentor us, we are allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, to grow, to be encouraged, and to live fully into our calling. So let us continue to mentor selflessly, seek mentorship humbly, and build the networks of support that will carry all of us, and the students we serve, toward a better future.
(Kelly Aramaki is a blogger for Conference Daily Online and superintendent in Bellevue, Wash.)