the superintendency: the good, the challenges and the rewards
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Dr. Roberta KramerSuperintendentRiverside School DistrictTRANSCRIPT
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