Skip to main content

2.5 Solutions for Superintendents - Principles of Principals

I have addressed three point five solutions for school boards that would help sustain meaningful reform.  Today, we tackle the school executive, the superintendent.

The school superintendent.  All at once the educational ambassador to the community, and the policy advocate to the stakeholders.  It's a tenuous post, often held only for a short time - but all the same, quite influential.  While the $ is contextually high, and by that I mean higher than a principal, yet considerably lower for job a-likes in the private sector, the average 2.5 year stay impedes sustainable reform.  Sup's have narrow windows of opportunity.

Don't be distracted...focus!
They say that all a superintendent needs is a majority board, and they get to keep their jobs.  Bullocks.  What a red herring.  A very loathsome way to regard the role of an educational executive.  And yet, private sector executives face the same conditions.  Just ask me.  I'll tell you.  But perhaps some other time.

Besides the archaic board majority, what other tenants of leadership embolden the District CEO?  What else can one do to keep sustainable reform on the radar?



Here are 2.5 solutions for maintaining sustainable and meaningful school reform:

  • Make sacrifices - I'm not speaking of ones that proffer one's career on the altar of moral high ground, or of picking a ditch to die in.  I'm suggesting that a Superintendent needs to know when and how often to say NO.  Use the district's mission and vision as the foundation for no-making.  If it's not an aligned fit, it's a NO.  If you're not prepared to say no, you don't belong in this role.  At all.
Do you see what I see?

  • Focus - not the myopic variety.  I mean the version of focus that wins back-to-back championships.  As a wrestling coach, we focused on three moves, and became so expert in those 3 things, we couldn't be stopped.  A mentor of mine used to tell me, "Go fast to go slow, pick two things and work tirelessly for 3 years on those until you achieve mastery."  That's focus.

Who's behind the mask?
  • Reward innovation - this takes serious and courageous humility.  I think most leaders take this for granted.  They have external and internal dialogue that goes, "We need creativity, we need out-of-the-box thinking".  And yet when it really comes down to it, when someone doesn't think or do like the boss, buckle up butter-cup.  It's the rare leader that rewards someone for thinking differently than they do.


I went easy on the Superintendent's.  I have my reasons.

Onward!

Dr. J
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

1.5 Reasons to Take a Different Path - The Hippy-Cow Way

The Hippy-Cow Way I remember early in my career asking a question something like, "Why don't we try [insert idea here]?"  And the quick reply, "Because this is the way we've always done it." Wow. 2020 is teaching us that the way  we've always done things..does not work.  Yeah.  The age-old rut that can trap us all. Frustrating isn't it? As a child growing up in the Aspen Valley, I remember traveling many miles along Highway 82.  Glenwood to Carbondale, then to Basalt, and on to Aspen.  Two lanes most of the way, it was and is the main route connecting all of these Rocky  Mountain towns.  The drive can be breath-taking in the Fall. And most take this route because, well, it's the route we always take. It's familiar. Safe. Known. Well traveled. You get the idea. There are other ways to get where you're going. Roads less traveled that hold great sites and great reward. One of my favorites is the Hippy-Cow Way. Known only to our fam...
2 comments
Read more

What I've Learned from Trees

  I grew up in the Rocky Mountains, and now reside there as a middle-aged man. God's country. My family has lived here for six generations, founded to towns, owned gold and silver claims, timber, farmed and ranched here. My father was killed and is buried here.  All around me are these beautiful and majestic trees. For a time, my business was trees. Well, commercial landscaping. Purchasing, planting, cultivating, trimming, and growing trees. I can look at a tree and tell you if it is healthy, I can tell how it's been cared for, and when/where it should be trimmed. Over the course of my life I've learned a few things about these beautiful creations. Aspen trees are known for their breathtaking Fall colors. But did you know that they are the world's largest living organism? Their root systems are connected and when one member of a grove is sick, the others support it with nutrients.  Because Aspens are a united grove, they aren't as susceptible to disease and insects ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer for an Educator

It's rare to sit in the staff lounge for the 30 minute lunch break  we get and be able to reflect on one's career. Today was one such day...causing a flood of memories.  I offer this prayer for educators May you have protection when you do the home visit on the little girl who's father beat her with a 2x4 for getting a C.  May you have wisdom when consoling the teacher who gave her the C. Go with courage to sit next to the little girl who all alone weeps at the lunch table because she has lice. Teach her mother with tenderness. Be vigilant when the little boy describes the cigarette burn on his eye given him by his mother because he complained he was hungry. Hold fast at the 9 o'clock hour, still at school prepping for another day, while your own children go to sleep not having seen you all day. Have wisdom when all at home is falling down around you - and you know the children at school need you now more than ever. Be with joy when t...
2 comments
Read more