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WHEN FAMILIES in the Highline Public Schools community disagree with a district decision, they sometimes quote the Highline promise at school board meetings: 鈥淓very student in Highline Public Schools is known by name, strength and need and graduates prepared for the future they choose.鈥�

That pledge is 鈥渄eeply ingrained鈥� in the system, says Susan Enfield, now in her ninth year as superintendent of schools in Burien, Wash.

鈥淥ur promise is now so pervasive that they鈥檙e actually using it as a way to hold us accountable,鈥� says Enfield, who helped develop the promise. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not making that happen for kids every day and we know that. But we show up the next day and try to do better. But it is hard because at its core, that promise is a commitment to equity.鈥�

Relationship building is a priority for Enfield.

鈥淪he lives and breathes it,鈥� says Gil Parsons, principal of Sylvester Middle School. 鈥淪he is really effective at personalizing relation-ships with principals. 鈥� (and has) a real authentic kind of way about our children and our families.鈥�

Enfield began her career as an English and journalism teacher in Cupertino, Calif. She never intended to become an administrator until she attended the Urban Superintendents Program at Harvard University.

鈥淭he decision to apply and go through that program changed my life and that鈥檚 not an exaggeration,鈥� Enfield says. 鈥淚t changed how I thought about the work, it changed the work that I did.鈥�

Anne Baunach, executive director of the Highline Schools Foundation, says in a district of 19,000 students, she鈥檚 amazed Enfield can call on students by name. Plus, she appreciates Enfield鈥檚 commitment to others.

鈥淪he always has time for a call, a text, anything,鈥� Baunach says. 鈥淲henever you meet with Susan, you feel like you鈥檙e the most important person in her world right then.鈥�

Her colleagues suggest Enfield鈥檚 greatest asset is her authenticity. 鈥淭here are no games being played with Susan,鈥� Baunach says. 鈥淲hat you see is what you get. She will share the good and the bad. I think she鈥檚 well-respected because of that, and people want to be part of her team.鈥�

Enfield says she concentrates on making the tough decisions she believes will positively impact the students in Highline鈥檚 schools. She calls this responsibility 鈥渉ugely inspiring.鈥� One administrator says her leadership 鈥渋nspires hope, heart and humanity.鈥�

When she first came to Highline, Enfield says, only half the students were enrolled in full-day kindergarten, and the district wasn鈥檛 investing in professional development for kindergarten teachers. In her first year, she made tuition-free kindergarten available for every child.

鈥淸I had] a team that worked really hard to make it happen and teachers who stepped up and said, 鈥楾his is really hard, but I want to do it,鈥欌�� she says.

Additionally, Enfield advocates for providing broadband access for all students. She says, 鈥渆very child needs to be connected to the internet. Otherwise 鈥� we鈥檙e not providing a free, appropriate education for every child.鈥�

During her tenure as superintendent, four-year graduation rates have increased from 62 percent in 2013 to 83 percent in 2019, the district has created six dual language programs in schools, and participation in Advanced Placement courses is up 50 percent.

鈥淓quity is hard to achieve because not everyone gets the same,鈥� Enfield says. 鈥淚t is not for the faint of heart, this work. But it鈥檚 some of the best work I think that happens on the planet.鈥�