91ÖÆƬ

91ÖÆƬ mentors help district leaders see their own potential, navigate complex challenges, and stay focused on what matters most for students. In this conversation with superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil, a mentor of the , you'll read why great mentors ask better questions instead of giving easy answers and how today's superintendents must navigate sweeping societal change while staying rooted in their communities.

 From your perspective, what are the qualities that make a good mentor?

A good mentor listens more than they talk. Great mentors don't just provide answers; they inspire deeper questions that help bridge the gap between where a leader is and where they want to be. They are door-openers who lead with humility and transparency, deliver feedback with heart, and invest deeply in the success of the next generation.

 What is the most valuable piece of advice you have received from a mentor?

The best is advice is I have received has been to be who you are, embrace your whole self, be bold and confident and don't let fear prevent you from doing what's right for kids.

 The educational landscape is changing rapidly — politically, culturally, and technologically. What does effective superintendent leadership look like in this moment?

Effective superintendent leadership in today's climate requires a shift from managing systems to navigating and sensemaking of the massive societal change we are experiencing.

We must be able to utilize our platforms to bring people together across divides and keep the focus on what's good for children. 

Superintendents must "think globally and act locally," which means staying fluent in national and state-level policy shifts while remaining deeply rooted in the specific needs of their unique community. At the same time, superintendents serve as Chief Communication Officer, with the ability to deliver strong positive messages about public education during a time when faith in our school systems is at an all-time low — and to use their platforms to bring people together across divides and keep the focus on what's good for children.

As technology continues to evolve rapidly, superintendents must also lead schools that prepare students for careers of the future. And through all of it, none of us can do this work alone. Superintendents must leverage their professional networks and collaborate to develop solutions. We are stronger together.

 How has mentoring changed the way you think about your own leadership?

Mentoring makes me reflect on my practice and the insights I can share with the next generation of leaders. It is an opportunity to honor the mentors who have shaped my leadership story. I am deeply grateful that by being an 91ÖÆƬ mentor I will now be a part of someone's story.