How this California Superintendent is Amplifying Ed Leaders’ Natural Talents

In a recent interview, Gordon Amerson, superintendent of the Val Verde Unified School District in Riverside County, California, shared valuable insights on educational leadership, school culture, and the challenges facing today’s educators and students. With 25 years of expertise in developing successful school systems, Amerson offers a unique perspective on how to foster positive change in education.

Strength-Based Leadership: Amplifying Natural Talents

Amerson is a strong advocate for strength-based leadership, a concept he discovered while serving as a high school principal. This approach, developed by the Gallup organization, helps individuals identify and leverage their natural talents and strengths.

“What strength-based leadership allows us to do is to take people through an assessment,” Amerson explains. “It ranks your top 34 strengths based on these Gallup themes that have been developed. We really try to help people focus on their top five.”

By concentrating on these “force multipliers,” leaders can achieve more and be more authentically themselves. This approach contrasts with the common tendency to focus on deficits or weaknesses. Amerson argues that by amplifying natural gifts and talents, people become more engaged, happier, and ultimately more productive in their work.

Transitioning to Leadership: Key Principles

For educators transitioning into leadership roles, Amerson emphasizes three core principles:

1. Effective Communication: Leaders must be skilled communicators, focusing not just on speaking but also on listening to others.
2. Visionary Thinking: People look to leaders for guidance and direction. Being able to articulate a clear vision for the future is crucial.
3. Building Relationships and Trust: This is perhaps the most critical aspect of leadership. As Amerson puts it, “It doesn’t cost you anything to build trust and relationships with people.”

Fostering a Positive School Culture

Creating a positive school culture starts with honest assessment and active listening. Amerson suggests conducting a “listening tour” to understand the perspectives of both formal and informal leaders within the organization. This approach helps identify common themes and challenges.

Once these are understood, leaders can take immediate action on “low-hanging fruit” to demonstrate tangible improvements. This builds trust and sets the stage for longer-term strategic initiatives.

Supporting Teachers in Challenging Times

Acknowledging the current challenges facing the teaching profession, Amerson emphasizes the need to remind educators of their profound importance. “There’s no more profoundly influential opportunity that you can have than to be there in a space to teach children,” he states.

To support teachers, Amerson suggests:

• Recognizing teaching as a profession that requires intentional preparation
• Actively recruiting individuals passionate about investing in others and their community
• Creating environments where teachers can thrive, which in turn benefits students
• Addressing Student Mental Health

Giving Students a Voice

Amerson stresses the importance of giving students a voice in their education. “Far too often we are doing education to them as opposed to doing education with them,” he notes. He advocates for:

• Providing students with agency and opportunities for input
• Making counseling and social-emotional supports fundamental to educational work
• Equipping teachers with resources and strategies to address students’ emotional needs

Embracing AI in Education

On the topic of artificial intelligence in education, Amerson emphasizes the need to:

• Invest in professional development for teachers around AI
• Demonstrate the value of AI for educators
• Involve teachers in driving the conversation about AI integration

By focusing on these key areas, Amerson believes we can create more supportive, effective, and forward-thinking educational environments that benefit both educators and students.

Listen to our entire interview with Gordon Amerson here.