To Improve Relationships Between the School Board and the Superintendent PDF Download

Author: San Francisco Public Schools Commission
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Public schools
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Author: Lamont Alexander Jackson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Educational leadership
Languages : en
Pages : 186

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Book Description
The position of public school superintendent has experienced both a redefinition and a rebirth in its criticality. With increased accountability due to the shifting public school "Back to Basics" educational perspective in the 1980s, the launch of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2001, and the signing of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015 by President Barack Obama, the role of superintendent has seen a shift from that of an organizational manager to that of an instructional leader. Much has been studied about the importance of the public school superintendent, particularly the challenge of superintendent retention. High turnover rates appear to contribute to the lack of continuity required to move an educational organization in the direction of its mission. One factor accounting for high turnover appears to be some superintendents' inability to build relationships with their school boards. This multi-case study/cross-case analysis examined why superintendents struggle to create and sustain significant relationships with their school boards. It explored the metacognitive processes of two superintendents, what factors contribute to their use of specific strategies, and how decisions relating to the strategies have been made. This study provides an important investigation into a topic that may offer greater understanding of ways to improve superintendency tenure, and how educational preparation and training programs for superintendents can be improved to equip superintendents with leadership skills to work collaboratively and constructively with school boards. Chief findings showed how the two superintendents in the study used strategies of relationships, management of ego, communication, educating the board, and politics to build and maintain relationships with their school board members. While the findings show these superintendents were mindful, thoughtful, and strategic, the data also indicate a linear, technical, and interpersonal connection between these superintendents' leadership and their board member relationships. The findings suggest ways to enhance superintendent leadership by having them focus on transformational leadership, adaptive leadership, and interactions with board members that affect the organizational system as a whole. Each of these is influenced by both superintendent and board member contextual understanding, political interplay, and organizational learning.

Author: Julie L. Hackett
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781612508078
Category : School board-superintendent relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Provides a clear road map for effective collaboration with school boards and the type of relationship-building required to achieve long-term, sustainable reforms. Instead of keeping school board members at arm's length, Julie L. Hackett demonstrates how to tailor traditional superintendent activities to include board members and increase understanding and trust.

Author: Amy E. Van Deuren
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1475815549
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 159

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Book Description
The importance of positive board/superintendent relationships cannot be understated. The need to balance competing political pressures to create the best possible learning opportunities for students is ever present. Most importantly, board/superintendent relationships should be cultivated with openness and transparency among each other and the public. This book is a resource for both board members and superintendents, and explores issues related to the board/superintendent relationship and superintendent hiring practices. The book includes contributions from experienced and new superintendents and board members on a wide range of topics that boards and superintendents must navigate together successfully in order to move districts in a positive direction for students, staff, parents, and communities. This book is unique in that the intended audience is both boards and superintendents. It is not a resource wherein “experts” tell board members how they should conduct board business, nor a resource that informs superintendents how to “manage” school boards. Instead, the book promotes and encourages a productive working relationship and partnership that moves school districts forward in a positive manner.

Author: Rene S. Townsend
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 1483360067
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 153

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"The authors fill a gap in the literature by providing a practical, experience-based look at how superintendents should approach the most important relationship in their professional lives. Working effectively with school boards is what it is all about, and this book shows you how." -Paul D. Houston, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators "This book provides practical insights and useful ideas to help district leaders who are serious about keeping the educational interest of children first among their priorities." -Pedro A. Noguera, Professor, New York University "Clearly lays out the important role the superintendent has in leading the district in partnership with the board of education. This book is well worth the time of every current and aspiring superintendent and school board member!" -Anne Bryant, Executive Director, National School Boards Association "This book is a useful tool in building district governance teams. The authors′ collective wisdom provides valuable insight for superintendents and school board members." -Luan B. Rivera, President, California State Boards Association "A wonderful, clear, and jargon-free primer on how to be a successful superintendent. This book is must reading for superintendents and a real plus for school boards." -Dede Alpert, Former California State Senator, Former Member, California State Assembly "An outstanding fieldbook for those interested in down-to-earth strategies for navigating the complexities of providing leadership in school districts." -General Davie, Jr., Retired Superintendent of Schools Foster a strong superintendent-school board relationship centered on quality teaching and learning! Effective Superintendent-School Board Practices helps current and future superintendents and school board members develop an effective governance team that prioritizes quality teaching and learning. Designed for practicing and aspiring superintendents and school board members, this exceptional book relates the everyday experiences and challenges faced by this important district team. Combining 84 years of service as superintendents in urban, rural, and suburban school districts, the authors offer: Real-life vignettes that highlight problems, successes, key points, and useful practices Indispensable information on building relationships, creating a team, managing conflict, and staying focused on the mission and priorities of the district Reflective practice questions and self-assessments throughout This rich resource offers knowledge, skills, and strategies to teach and inspire current and future leaders, based on the experiences of practitioners who have learned what works and what doesn′t, leaving valuable time to focus on student achievement.

Author: Raye Lynn White
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : School board-superintendent relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
This study examined the perceptions of school board members and superintendents of their role and responsibilities during conflict. The following research questions were the focus of this study: (1) What type of group interactions occurred among the school board members and between the board and the superintendent? (2) How did the board/superintendent relationship affect information processing, conflict management, and goal setting between the school board and the superintendent? (3) What ways did group structures, such as role identity, influence board/superintendent cohesiveness? (4) What ways did the superintendent's leadership have an effect on board/superintendent cohesiveness? A good working relationship between an elected school board and an appointed superintendent is crucial in order for the school district to attain its district goals and improve student achievement. The school board members need to understand not only their roles and functions, but also the role and function of the superintendent. If a healthy relationship is not developed, then the school district and their stakeholders will be in a constant power struggle (Estes, 1979). A well-rounded working relationship between the school board and the superintendent is imperative if the district wants to achieve the goals set by the school board and to meet the mandates and requirements from federal and state agencies. Utilizing a qualitative multiple case study with a social action system theory approach, direct observations, individual interviews, and document reviews were used to collect data in this research study. Open, axial, and selective coding were used to analyze the qualitative data that was collected. This study supported themes in practice that emerged through the data in school districts with healthy board/superintendent relationships. The themes included: (a) honesty; (b) free flowing communication; (c) mutual respect; and (g) trust. This study also supplemented the existing research with additional themes that emerged from the individual interviews, direct observation and documents. These emergent themes included: (a) lack of communication; (b) dishonesty; (c) favoritism. The results of this study provided information related to strategies that aid in the development and the improvement of the school board and superintendent relationship. It contributed to the field of knowledge by highlighting the importance of improving the school board and superintendent relationship. This study can serve as a guide for designing training for school boards and superintendents. It could also help determine if a single method or a combination of methods would help to develop or improve the relationship between the school board and the superintendent.

Author: Jack McCurdy
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 132

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Book Description
Practices to maintain and enhance board-member relationships are described in this handbook. Following the preface, chapter 1 presents a historical overview to describe the problems involved in defining the proper roles for school boards and superintendents. Chapter 2 identifies current board/administrator roles and what they should be for the 1990s and beyond. The third chapter examines factors contributing to the declining tenure of superintendents. Factors of the rising tensions between boards and administrators in the areas of communication, turf, personnel decisions, and lack of training are examined in the fourth chapter. Chapter 5 looks at the external pressures that enhance those tensions. Chapters 6 and 7 provide strategies for selecting superintendents and for conducting superintendent evaluation and board self-evaluation. The eighth chapter describes how to create a relationship based on trust, with a focus on the importance of communication and the power of information. The final chapter examines some of the ways in which successful boards and administrators have created and maintained thriving relationships through developing shared decision making, dealing with conflict, participating in inservice training, changing the superintendent's role, and sharing responsibilities. An example of a school-based management program in the Cherry Creek Schools of Englewood, Colorado, and a list of related American Association of School Administrators (AASA) publications are included. (LMI)

Author: William Earls Noyes
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : School boards
Languages : en
Pages : 294

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Author: Bradley V. Balch
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781945349133
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
To address urgent challenges and drive continuous improvement effectively, school board members, superintendents, and school leaders must develop strong school board/superintendent teams. The authors offer a systematic approach for establishing a unified school leadership team that can efficiently meet demands, avoid conflict, and respond to the ever-changing educational environment. Each chapter includes professional development activities that can be adapted for teams of any size. Learn how to build an effective school leadership team: Consider how the school board/superintendent team can remain sustainable and productive in governance, instructional leadership, and school improvement. Foster committed team relationships and develop effective school leadership practices and qualities within the team. Clarify superintendents' and school board members' roles and responsibilities to improve governance and avoid conflict. Learn characteristics of effective communication and how to speak with one unified voice as a team. Participate in team professional development activities that build trust, respect, transparency, and accountability among the team. Contents: Introduction Chapter 1: Legal Perspectives and the Case for Local Control Chapter 2: Induction and New Team Member Orientation Chapter 3: Team Members' Roles and Responsibilities Chapter 4: Effective Communication and a Unified Voice Chapter 5: Team Decision Making Chapter 6: Committed, Effective Team Leadership Chapter 7: Foundational Statements Chapter 8: Continuous Improvement and Quality Assurance Chapter 9: Governance and Leadership During Change Chapter 10: Dysfunctional Teams and Rogue Members Chapter 11: System Evaluation Essentials Chapter 12: The Future of the School Board-Superintendent Team References and Resources

Author: Robert J. Marzano
Publisher: Solution Tree Press
ISBN: 1935542362
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 297

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Book Description
Bridge the great divide between distanced administrative duties and daily classroom impact. This book introduces a top-down power mechanism called defined autonomy, a concept that focuses on district-defined, nonnegotiable, common goals and a system of accountability supported by assessment tools. Defined autonomy creates an effective balance of centralized direction and individualized empowerment that allows building-level staff the stylistic freedom to respond quickly and effectively to student failure.