D304 Superintendent Completes National Certification Program

GENEVA, IL — Geneva Community Unit School District 304's superintendent is one of 22 nationally who completed an 18-month program administered by the School Superintendents Association, district officials announced Friday.

The National Superintendent Certification Program allows superintendents to refresh their skills through curriculums led by teachers and guest instructors who "bring a wealth of experience and ideas that have demonstrated proven track records of success," District 304 officials said in a news release.

According to AASA's website, the program, which included 18 months of coursework and a capstone project, "focuses on sharpening the skills that successful superintendents acknowledge are needed to thrive on the job and provides relevant experiences for our members. It is clear that political and economic pressures of the job are exacerbated by growing intrusions into local control and a prevailing attitude that educators do not have the solutions, and indeed, are part of the problem."

Superintendent Kent Mutchler was formally recognized at AASA's National Conference on Education, which was held Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee.

"AASA’s National Superintendent Certification Program is a valuable program for professional growth and recognition aimed at recognizing excellence and helping superintendents to navigate the many challenges currently facing our schools," Mutchler said in a statement.

He continued to say that while a lot of work, the program was "well worth the time and effort to accomplish this goal. It helped to keep me focused on serving students and provided me with a host of innovative ideas and a network of peers for working toward the success of all students educationally."