Superintendent Andrew Jordan Urges Educators to Redefine Success
Superintendent Andrew Jordan, a longtime educator and Illinois Principals Association Principal of the Year (2022), is calling on teachers, administrators, and education leaders to rethink how they define and measure success in today's schools. Drawing on his own journey from principal to superintendent—and lessons learned from sports, community events, and school leadership—Jordan says real success isn't loud. It's built quietly through trust, purpose, and small, consistent wins.
'Success isn't always a headline,' Jordan says. 'It's a student who finally raises their hand. It's a parent who shows up for the first time. That's where the real wins are.'
Why This Conversation Matters Now
Educator burnout is rising at alarming rates. According to a 2024 report from the National Education Association, 55% of U.S. educators have considered leaving the profession, citing stress, lack of support, and a growing disconnect between policy and purpose. Meanwhile, schools continue to face pressure to hit academic benchmarks and improve test scores—often at the cost of teacher and student well-being.
Jordan believes this disconnect is rooted in how we define success.
'We've made success about performance metrics. But if we don't protect purpose, we lose people,' he says. 'That's how burnout starts—not just from overwork, but from forgetting why you started.'
Success That's Built, Not Bought
Jordan's view of success is shaped by more than test scores. His background includes running athletic events like the Stockton 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament for 15 years and co-founding community-focused races like the Wine Run 5K. Those experiences showed him how much success depends on people, planning, and presence—not just outcomes.
'Some years the tournament went perfectly. Some years it rained, volunteers dropped out, and the scoreboard broke,' Jordan recalls. 'But people still showed up, because they trusted the 'why' behind it. That's what we need more of in schools.'
A Personal Call to Action
Jordan is encouraging educators and school leaders to shift their focus from external validation to internal purpose. His suggestions include:
Start a 'Why I Teach' file – Collect notes, emails, and moments that remind you of your impact. Revisit it often.
Talk about real wins – Celebrate the moments that don't show up on spreadsheets.
Lead with listening – Ask your staff what they need—not just what's due.
Protect time for reflection – Even 15 minutes a week can help realign goals and reduce burnout.
Share with your peers – Join committees, attend conferences, and hear what's working in other schools.
'If we want educators to stay, we have to let them lead with heart,' Jordan says. 'And we have to create space for that heart to show up.'
Changing the Scoreboard
The future of education, Jordan says, depends on what we choose to count.
Are we only tracking grades and attendance?
Or are we also counting connection, confidence, and growth?
He's not anti-data. But he is pro-context.
'The scoreboard's important,' he says. 'But so is the locker room. What happens behind the scenes—the relationships, the effort, the reflection—that's where real success lives.'
About Andrew Jordan
Andrew Jordan is a superintendent, former principal, and educational leader based in Stockton, Illinois. He is a two-time master's graduate, recipient of the Stronger Connections Grant (ISBE, 2024), and member of state-level educational committees including the Illinois Masonic Student Assistance Program (IMSAP) and Representative Jason Bunting's Educational Committee. He has presented at multiple statewide academic conferences and remains actively engaged in both education and community service initiatives.
CALL TO ACTION
Educators: Redefine your success story. This week, take 10 minutes to reflect. Write down one moment that reminded you why you started. Share it with a colleague. Lead with that—then repeat.
Media Contact: To read the full Interview, click here. Email: andrewjordan@emaildn.com
Media Contact
Contact Person: Andrew Jordan
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: andrewjordanillinois.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
‘We're begging for change': Pimicikamak declares state of emergency over water crisis
Pimicikamak Cree Nation said its decades-old water treatment system can't keep up with the community's needs. Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Residents that began returning to a northern Manitoba First Nation last week after a wildfire threat are now facing a water crisis. 'Our people need water, plain and simple,' Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias told CTV News, whose community is now under a state of emergency. Monias said community members rely on two outdated water treatment plants that are between 35 and 45 years old for clean water, but he says they can no longer keep up with the community's needs. He said parts for the 'archaic' treatment system that pulls water in from the Nelson River are difficult to find and a breakdown several weeks ago left the community's south side without running water. He estimates the treatment plant's failure directly impacts approximately 30 per cent of residents—including a school meant for 800 students and a $55 million health centre. 'We had some really bad incidents where they really need to sanitize the areas that are in the emergency rooms, and they need to make sure that they're having good clean water to be able to function … It just seems like we're running into problems after problems,' he said. Monias said the federal government previously committed funding for the development of a new water plant, but said delays, including the federal election in April, have stalled the process. 'Since that time, nothing's moved, nothing has happened,' he said. 'We're begging for change.' A spokesperson for Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, told CTV News in a statement that Indigenous Services Canada is working with engineers, contractors and leaders to help solve the problems with the community's water system. 'Minister Gull-Masty has reached out to Chief Monias and is working to meet in the coming weeks and days to discuss the future process for the community,' said the statement. Pimicikamak—also known as Cross Lake—is located approximately 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
B.C. man digs through dump to find wife's lost wedding rings
A mission man sifted through tons and tons of garbage at the dump to find his wife's wedding and anniversary rings. A Mission man has recovered his wife's lost wedding and anniversary rings, after an unusual and rather stinky search through 18 tonnes of compost at the local dump. Steve Van Ysseldyk's wife, Jeannine, noticed the rings were missing after washing her hands at a restaurant. 'We left the restaurant, I'm like, I can't even wait for the check,' she said. The couple retraced their steps and realized the rings must have gone missing the night before. After an outing at the movies, Jeannine Van Ysseldyk had brought some popcorn home, but spilled it on the lawn. Somehow, while picking it up and tossing it into the compost, the jewelry must have come off. By the time the couple figured it out, their garbage and compost had already been collected. 'I said I'd go to the dump in the morning and ask them if I could go through the compost pile,' said her husband. Few people thought he had any chance of finding the rings, including an employee at the Mission Sanitary Landfill. 'My brain was trying to figure out a way to tell him to go buy his wife new wedding rings,' said contractor Denny Webster. But admiring Van Ysseldyk's determination, Webster agreed to help. He used an excavator to isolate smaller sections of the compost pile so Van Ysseldyk could begin his search. 'When he has something on his mind, he makes sure he does it. He follows through,' said his wife. So, Van Ysseldyk began sifting through those piles and began to recognize his household waste, including a popcorn bag. Astonishingly, within an hour, he found one ring, and then the other. 'And it was all slimy with popcorn and butter,' described Webster. So, husband called wife to deliver the good news. 'She basically broke down crying, cried all the way home,' he said. Against the odds, and despite the smell, the search was a success. With a smile, Jeannine Van Ysseldyk insisted their 26-year-old marriage is now even stronger. 'Well, yes, because I know how much he loves me, that he's willing to go through a rotten, stinky compost pile,' she said, laughing.
Globe and Mail
4 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
The art of letting go as our kids venture into adulthood
During my Grade 12 year, a long time ago now, I applied to different university programs around Ontario, none of which I'd visited. A guidance counsellor gave me a list of bursaries and scholarships and told me about the Ontario Student Assistance Program. The information felt overwhelming, but I worked through it. What stands out in my memory is my parents' lack of involvement. Despite being university-educated themselves, they were completely hands-off when it came to decisions about my education. They didn't ask questions or offer advice, even when I signed for a hefty student loan with little concept of what it meant, beyond free money, right now! I doubt they even knew which programs I'd applied to (an odd mix of midwifery, environmental science and English literature, if you're wondering). They trusted my ability to figure it out, just as their parents had done with them. Then I deferred my acceptance at the University of Toronto and moved to Brazil to live on a beach. My parents voiced more opinions about that than my postponed education, mainly insisting that I come home after a year, but again, they left it to me to figure out accommodations. When I did return, they hadn't changed their approach, never weighing in on my course selection or anything else related to school. They did agree to drive me to school the day before classes began, which was nice. My parents were not uninvolved because they didn't care; rather, they recognized that I was a young adult who was ready for responsibility. They had busy lives of their own and no spare time to micromanage my life. I didn't mind; I knew they'd be there in an emergency. Students are finding it hard to get summer jobs – here's what else they can do Time flies, as any parent knows, and somehow my oldest son is now in Grade 11, talking about university. I struggle with the thought of relinquishing control in the way my parents did (he seems so young!), but I remind myself that we parents have a tough but necessary task at this stage in our kids' lives. We have to force ourselves to let go, even though it runs counter to all we've done for the past 18 years. In an effort to prepare myself, I have been thinking about my own experience and talking to parents with older kids, as well as some young adults, about which sorts of deliberate behaviours and choices comprise this tricky art of letting go. The consensus appears to be that parents of newly independent kids should avoid daily check-ins, letting the young people initiate communication. Don't make surprise FaceTime calls or show up unannounced at their new homes. A 19-year-old friend suggested parents resist the urge to offer unsolicited help or advice, adding that kids will ask for it when they need it. Another friend, who's a dad, told me not to expect them to ask permission to go places any more. And forget about curfews. To that I'd add, stop tracking their whereabouts, if that's something you did previously. Young adults deserve privacy, and too much information mixed with speculation will only make you worry. It's important not to manage their money any more. Depending on your family's arrangement, shift from an allowance to a budget, or encourage them to get a part-time job. They should have a credit card that they are responsible for paying monthly, along with their phone bill, groceries, rent and other costs. Resist involvement in course selections, workload and deadlines. You could offer to edit essays or explain concepts related to your area of expertise, but otherwise stay quiet – and do not check an online portal for grades. Delete the login information! Let them come to you if there's a problem or grant them the opportunity to handle failure privately. When it comes to household chores, parents advised against doing their laundry or batch-cooking when they visit. Avoid booking medical and dental appointments and haircuts and try not to fret about what they're eating or not eating. When it comes to holiday plans, you can invite them, but you can't force them to attend. The goal of this transition is summarized well in the phrase, 'a shift from manager to mentor.' You're not abandoning your child, just redrawing the relationship's boundaries to promote growth. If you're struggling, reorganize their bedroom as a visual reminder that they're not the same little kid any more. Take pride in having raised a child to this point. Remind yourself of how exciting it felt to be young, venturing out into the world for the first time, and perhaps you, too, can seize this opportunity to rediscover yourself. Maybe it's time to go find another Brazilian beach.
