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The mission of SSA is to provide a united voice for school superintendents in our state. SSA promotes public education in Alabama and the nation; is the leading advocate for children and youth in our state; provides a forum for discussion of educational issues and organizational values; provides professional development to promote the efficient operation of the office of school superintendent; develops new superintendents and the superintendent’s leadership team; and disseminates to members pertinent information about public education.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS of Alabama is the only association in Alabama for all school superintendents and members of their leadership team. There are approximately 725 members, including 132 public school systems, individual, retired, associate, and business members.
SSA is a professional non-profit organization comprised of superintendents and school system leaders from across Alabama who are committed to improving education for Alabama’s children. SSA has a full-time office staff who represent your viewpoint year-round in a definitive voice with the Legislature, Governor’s Office, and other policy making bodies including the State Board of Education and keep you informed of important issues.
Membership for SSA is by school district membership. The superintendent is the voting member for the district and names up to four additional district leaders for SSA membership. Each school district leader listed for membership of SSA must be a member of CLAS. Members of SSA may include:
- State, county and city superintendents
- Administrators in city and county school systems exercising the functions of associate or assistant superintendent
- State and local officers of educational administration (click here for membership form)
- Heads of teacher-training institutions, colleges of education (click here for membership form)
- Heads of departments or colleges of education and professors of school administration or supervision (click here for membership form)
Retired supervisors and administrators may join as an honorary member but may not vote or hold office. (click here for membership form)
History of SSA
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS of Alabama has not always been the name of the association of superintendents. In 1925 they met as two groups, an organization of County Superintendents and an organization of City Superintendents. Both groups held their annual meetings at the time of the annual meeting of the Alabama Education Association which was held in March, and both were under the AEA. They had a dinner meeting together but would hold their meetings separate. At that time, the Alabama Education Association held most of its conventions in Birmingham; except records showed they met in Montgomery in 1930, 1933, and 1939. The superintendents would meet in churches, schools and hotels. The facilities were not as good, so most of the years they were held in Birmingham, using the old municipal auditorium. The old Tutwiler Hotel was the gathering place for most members.
In 1933-34, the two superintendent groups merged into one. It was called the Department of Superintendents. It retained this name for four eyars, and in 1937-38 it became the Alabama Association of School Administrators.
The AASA would usually have its own meeting on Wednesday morning. There would be a program, and the election of officers. The officers would take office at the conclusion of the convention and would hold office until the conclusion of the next convention. The AASA would hold joint meetings with the secondary principals on Wednesday afternoon which was usually held at Phillips High School auditorium. A few years it was held in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church. The superintendents at different times would hold joint meetings with the supervisors, and one or two years would meet with the School Boards Association
There have been six presidents of the Superintendents groups who later became State Superintendent. The first was Dr. J.A. Keller who was superintendent of Covington County Schools. After serving as state superintendent he was made president of Florence State College, which he served for a number of years. Dr. E.B. Norton was second. He was also superintendent of schools in Covington County when he was President of AASA. After serving as state superintendent he was made president of Florence State College, which he then served for a number of years. Dr. LeRoy Brown was superintendent of Anniston City Schools when he was president of AASA. He was the first appointed State Superintendent of Education. The fourth is Dr. Wayne Teague who was superintendent of Auburn City Schools when he was appointed State Superintendent. He held the office longer than any of the other state superintendents in the country at that time.
The fifth state superintendent who was also a president of AASA was Dr. Ed Richardson. Dr. Richardson was superintendent in Auburn City Schools when he was appointed State Superintendent and he stepped down when asked to serve as Interim President for Auburn University. He then served as President of Auburn for several years prior to retiring. The sixth was Dr. Joe Morton, former superintendent of Sylacauga City Schools and president of AASA. Dr. Morton was the Deputy State Superintendent under Dr. Richardson, then appointed Interim State Superintendent, and now serving in his sixth year as State Superintendent.
It became customary for superintendents to serve as President for two years which began in 1944-45 due to the war and continued until 1969-70. In 1971 AASA worked with the other administrator associations to pull away from AEA and form the Alabama Council of School Administrators (ACSA). Later the name was lengthened to include school supervisors and became the Alabama Council for School Administration and Supervision (ACSAS). Then in 1998, members voted to change the umbrella association’s name to the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS).
In 2001 AASA completed a strategic plan and changed its dues structure that resulted in hiring the first full time executive director. Dr. Susan L Lockwood was superintendent of Eufaula City Schools for seven years when she was hired to be Executive Director of AASA on November 14, 2002. Dr. Lockwood began to implement the strategic plan, grow a staff, and provide services to the members. The goals of the strategic plan were to:
- Increase the influence of AASA with policy makers
- Communicate sound principles of governance and accurate information
- Improve the effectiveness of the members of AASA
- Function as a unifying force for promoting Alabama education
In 2004 the association moved out from the umbrella organization (CLAS) to its own location in The Bailey Building at 400 S Union St, Suite 495, and changed the name of AASA to SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS of Alabama to provide a stronger voice for superintendents in the development of public policy and education budgets.
Since that time SSA has become a leading voice for children in our state; active in legislative work at the State House and involved in development of the k-12 education budget; has implemented an effective Executive Coaching and Training Institute for New Superintendents and to date 104 new superintendents have received assistance through this program; provides effective staff development programs at a summer, fall, and legislative conference; and implemented a business member partnership that provides funding for the SSA lobbying efforts.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS of Alabama is divided into nine districts. Each district elects a District President who is responsible for 1) establishing meetings of the district and setting time and place for such meetings, and 2) representing the district on the Board of Directors. The District President communicates the concerns and issues of superintendents in the district to the board and communicates from the board to the district. The Board of Directors is composed of 9 district presidents, 4 executive officers, 4 CLAS board members, and at least 2 AASA governing board members.
SSA Board of Directors at work
Benefits and Services
SSA is prepared to serve you and your leadership team in the upcoming school year. Membership in the SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS of Alabama provides the superintendent and up to four other system leaders the superintendent designates with
- Professional Development Conferences
- District Meetings
- Awards and Scholarships
- Assistance to Superintendents
- Policymaking Influence
- Legislative Influence
- New Superintendent Development
- Strategic Planning Program
- Executive Coaching
- Contract Assistance
Professional Development Conferences
Three professional development conferences are held each year. A Fall Conference is usually held in the north part of the state during the third week of October and usually emphasizes instructional leadership with a program developed by the state department of education. SSA meetings occur during the conference, including a meeting of the Awards and Scholarship and Conference Planning Committees. The Legislative Conference is held in Montgomery in conjunction with the beginning of the Legislative Session and includes a Legislative Reception for superintendents and their legislative delegation. The focus is always on the upcoming session, budget priorities, improving our lobbying skill, timely topics, and development of legislative relations. The conference is planned by the SSA staff and officers and geared to connect legislative priorities of SSA, superintendents, and legislative leaders. The Summer Conference is always held at the beach or nearby, with training designed for the System Leadership Team and Superintendent. SSA strives to coordinate with the Alabama Association of School Boards so that conferences are back-to-back, allowing superintendents to more readily attend both conferences.
All districts establish their own meeting times and places. Most districts choose a regular day and week of each month to meet, such as the third Friday at lunch. These meetings provide opportunity for networking, sharing ideas and innovations, discussing issues and concerns. Much of the actions of SSA come from issues shared through district meetings. District meetings also provide an opportunity for business members to network with superintendents and share information about their business. Arrangements can be made through the district president.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS of Alabama encourages excellence in school practice and has an interest in the development of effective leadership not only now, but in the future. To that end, SSA offers awards for practicing superintendents and scholarships for future teachers and school and system leaders. SSA also processes state winners for national scholarship programs through the American Association of School Administrators for Alabama students attending public schools. SSA believes the future of our state is built on the promotion and development of quality teachers and offers student scholarships for those planning a career in education. SSA also offers scholarships to teachers planning to enter school administration.
Assistance to Superintendents
The SSA staff is available to provide assistance to superintendents and their leadership team through gathering pertinent information, conducting surveys, connecting to the “right person who can help”, sharing ideas and concerns with appropriate SDE staff, and finding out what is needed. The SSA Executive Director and Mentor Director are available to listen to concerns, share ideas, help frame solutions, and serve as a confidential sounding board. Please call if we can help! With networks available through membership in SSA, it doesn’t have to be so lonely at the top. Please call if we can help!
Policy Making and Legislative Influence
SSA serves as an advocate for legislation of importance to school system leaders. SSA has contract lobbyists and staff lobbyists that have key relationships and legislative experience to assist with accomplishing the legislative agenda. Lobbyists also assist superintendents in accessing legislators and improving performance in advocating for the needs of schools and children across the state. SSA represents superintendents at state board meetings and other educational meetings and hearings across the state. SSA maintains an effective liaison with the Department of Education.
New Superintendent Development
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS of Alabama is committed to providing the assistance needed for new superintendents to be successful. SSA is committed to strong system leadership that embraces a strong leadership team in the central office and throughout the district to effectively increase student achievement and strong public schools throughout Alabama. To that end, SSA provides a development program for new superintendents at no cost to member systems.
- Strategic Planning Program
SSA provides a planning program at each conference for superintendents in their first two years on the job. With the guidance of veteran and retired superintendents, they review and discuss upcoming activities essential for an effective system and, in a “safe environment”, discuss concerns and issues.
- Executive Coaching
SSA has 33 veteran superintendents trained in the Executive Coaching Model. Each new superintendent from a member system is matched with the right executive coach to work with him/her during the first year. Coaches make at least 8 contacts during the year, at least 4 contacts in person to review personnel, budget, and other issues.
- Contract Assistance
SSA provides sample contracts, contract clauses, and discussions with superintendents upon being appointed to a member system.
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