the superintendency: the good, the challenges and the rewards

The Superintendency: The Good, The Challenges and the Rewards

WSU Superintendent Cohort Presentation August 11, 2011

A Quote to Lead By

In the essentials, unity

In the non-essentials, freedom

In all things, clarity

The Good : Creating the “right” conditions• Finding the “right” Board –

understand how it changes over time

• Different way of leadership• Employee Relations• Strategic Planning• Hiring “right” and admitting

when you’ve done it wrong• Pace• Strategic leadership

The Good: Leading for Learning

• “Just right” size• More conclusive data• Instructional influence• Support “options”• Creating the conditions• Learning is the work• Inspiring the next

generation to greatness: Fearlessness gets us there

The Challenges

• You are “The Terminator”• Getting the board “on

board”• Employee relations• Knowing what can be

“managed”• Influence, but little control• Budget• Time becomes different

More challenges

• Levy/Facilities Needs• Communication• Maintaining your beliefs

under pressure• Asking for advice and

following through on it or not…

The Challenges: Leading for Learning• Small group of leaders,

same amount of work• Drastic changes stand out• Mandates• Program changes• Reading and learning

enough• Thinking out loud

The Rewards

• If you’re looking for frequent flier miles, get a credit card

• Student learning• Measures of “adult

achievement”• Community engagement• It’s up to me

Things I never thought about before being a Superintendent• How to hire an attorney• How to fire an attorney• How to deal with the enormity

of budget cuts in a relatively small district

• Employees groups and FOLLOWING the contract

• SNOW DAYS• How it would feel if the Supt’s

child got in trouble at school• How to negotiate my own

contract

Top Ten Things to Remember as a Superintendent10.Never underestimate the

collective wisdom of colleagues

11.Give yourself breathing room…few decisions require an immediate response

8. Don’t forget what it was like when you were a …

Top Ten Continued

7. Admit your mistakes before someone has a chance to point them out

6. Don’t throw down ice melt

5. Keep your sense of humor healthy

4. Time spent in the schools and classrooms is the time best spent

Top Ten Continued

3. Be the most positive person in the entire district

2. Learning “is the thing”1. Remember what you

stand for

The unexpected

• Loving the work• Trust• Leave nothing to chance• Respect the outcomes

Life is a succession of lessons, which must be lived to be understood.

Ralph Waldo Emerson