‘The authors have captured the ′must knows′ of the superintendency. This book is filled with keen insights and useful strategies to help the new superintendent establish credibility for long-term leadership success.’
—James Rickabaugh, Superintendent
Whitefish Bay School District, WI
‘Eller and Carlson offer realistic and practical suggestions for new superintendents to hit the ground running.’
—Theodore Creighton, Professor
Virginia Tech
Practical strategies for meeting the challenges of your first year as a superintendent!
The opportunities and responsibilities in the crucial first years of a superintendency can be challenging as well as exciting. This practical resource provides ready-to-use techniques that help superintendents build the relationships and teamwork needed to face these challenges with success.
This insightful guide provides new superintendents with guidelines for making a positive difference while handling transitions, culture changes, financial issues, staff supervision, and team building. Using their combined experience as district administrators, the authors uncover the complexities of the job and offer candid discussions about how to:
- Establish yourself as the instructional leader
- Determine staff and community expectations for your performance
- Prepare for landmines that may be waiting around the corner
- Develop positive communications with all stakeholders
Addressing the most common issues faced by new superintendents, this valuable reference provides the leadership tools to help a school district move forward.
Tabella dei contenuti
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
1. My Office Key Works, What′s Next?
About This Chapter
The Superintendency: Understanding the Historical Context
Potential Pitfalls for New Superintendents
Challenges of Leading a School District
The Importance of Focusing on the ‘Big Picture’
Jockeying for Position
The Windowpane Model: A Tool for Analyzing and Understaning Constituent Perspectives
The Superintendent as Community Liaison
Develop a Key Communicators Listing
The Changing Role of the Superintendency
Navigating the Changing Landscape
Successful School Change
Hills to ‘Die On’
Successful Communicator
Summary
2. The Superintendent-School Board Relationship: A Cornerstone of Your Success
About This Chapter
Managing the Superintendent-Board Relationship
The Importance of Equal Treatment
The ‘Inner Circle’
Addressing Individual Board Member Requests
When Is Equal Treatment Unequal?
Superintendent-Board Chair/President Interaction
Establishing Superintendent-Board Chair/President Interaction Norms
Keeping the Chair/President Relationship Productive
The Basics of Board Communication
Successful Communication: Form and Frequency
Forms of Communication
A Special Note About E-Mail Communication
Frequency of Communication
Establishing Effective Superintendent-Board Chair/President Communication
Emergency Communication Standards
Maintenance of Your Communication Plan With the Board
Board Standards and Operating Protocols
Who Has Authority for What: The Board and Superintendent as a Team
Summary
3. Organizational Trust and Culture: What Every Superintendent Should Know
About This Chapter
Organizational Culture
Rapport, Trust, Climate, and Their Relation to Culture
The Importance of Trust
Building and Sustaining Organizational Trust
Organizational Culture: The Gatekeeper of Excellence
Properties of School Districts as Organizations
The Complexity of Organizations
Organizations Are Surprising
Organizations Are Deceptive
Organizations Are Like Organisms
Trust and Excellence in Employee Group/Union Relationships
Summary
4. School Finance 101: What Should the Superintendent Know?
About This Chapter
Staying Afloat: Four Key Financial Reports
Enrollment Reports
Monthly Enrollment Reports
Annual Enrollment Projections
Expenditure Reports
Key Components and Their Location in the Budget Report
Current Budget
Current Month′s Expenditures
Previous Year′s Budget Data
Amount of Money Left in the Current Budget
Revenue Reports
Staffing Plans/Position Control Systems
Long-Range Financial Projection: Your Own Crystal Ball
The Importance of Long-Range Projection
Understanding the School District′s Financial Audit
Summary
5. How to Implement New Ideas in Your Initial Years as Superintendent
About This Chapter
The Change Process
The Honeymoon Period
Transitions and the Change Process
Levers of Change
Frames of Reference Related to the Change Process
Strategies to Consider When Dealing With Resistance
Facilitating/Guiding Groups Through Change
Putting It Behind Us
Learning Walk
Implementation Blocking
Summary
6. Supervising Principals and Directors: Strategies for Success
About This Chapter
Supervision of Executive-Level Administrators and Principals
Getting the Most From Your Staff Members
Supervision Strategies for Directors and Department/Divisional Administrators
Evaluating Department Heads, Assistant Superintendents, and Directors
Goal Setting
Summary
7. What About the Students? Instructional Leadership and Dealing With Federal Programs
About This Chapter
Instructional Leadership
No Child Left Behind Act
Special Education
Summary
8. Dealing With Difficult People and Situations
About This Chapter
What′s Behind All of This Negative Behavior?
Frames of Reference
Negative Reinforcement
Understanding the Perspectives of Others
Types of Conflict
Substantive (Cognitive) Conflict
Affective (Personality-Based) Conflict
Skills for Dealing With Difficult People
Temporary Suspension of Opinion
Framing
Reflecting Skills
Implementation Blocking
Shifting Energy Focus
Design and Implement Positive Problem-Solving Processes
Mediating Conflict
Working Positively With the Press
Summary
9. Getting the Word Out: Effective Communication Strategies
About This Chapter
The Power of Effective Communication
Sticky Note Ripple Effects
Managing Information Flow in Your Office and in the District
Establishing a Board Communication Process
Superintendent to Board
Board to Community
Community to Board
Board to Superintendent
Handling Private and Public Data
Summary
10. It′s July, Now What?
About This Chapter
The Importance of an Entry Plan: Successfully Navigating Your First Ninety Days on the Job
Opening Day With Staff
Selecting a Mentor
Key Components for Successful Mentor-Mentee Relationships
Sample Calendar of Monthly Events/Activities
Summary
Key Points From Each Chapter
References
Index
Circa l’autore
Howard Carlson is superintendent of the Wickenburg Unified School District located in Wickenburg, Arizona. Carlson has previously served at the assistant superintendent and superintendent levels in the states of Washington, Minnesota and Arizona. He has worked as President & CEO of a company which started schools in the states of Minnesota and Colorado and has consulted with school districts and private sector companies on a variety of educational issues. In addition to his current full-time position, he serves as a part-time faculty member at Walden University, where he works with students who are pursuing their doctorate in administrator leadership for teaching & learning. In 1990, he was recognized as the Washington State Young Agriculture Teacher of the Year and later as the Western Region of the United States Young Agriculture Teacher of the Year. In 1994, he was named the Washington Association of Agriculture Teachers’ Association, District #4, Administrator of the Year and in 2002 was selected as a candidate for the Outstanding Young Minnesotan Award. In 2004, he was chosen, along with a select group of Minnesota superintendents, to meet with the Commissioner of the U.S. Department of Education to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law.Carlson received his BS and doctorate from Washington State University and his master’s degree from Heritage University. His doctoral study major was educational leadership and his minor was curriculum & instruction.
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