Keys To Achieving a Profitable Public College Superintendency: Lessons Learned From the Field

Becoming a public school superintendent is between the most rewarding jobs a human services specialist can ever attain. You have the ability to make a really good contribution to the emotional and academic development of children in the same way a instructor does, but on a larger scale. It is also one particular of the most challenging jobs on the planet. There are a lot of reasons why even the most very experienced and competent college administrators may well someday discover themselves in a school district the place their continued success hits a serious bump in the street. Unforeseen elements this kind of as a dramatic alter in the school board's leadership or membership composition, a politically charged workers or pupil occasion, or even a individual health difficulty that may require an unusual time away from managing the typical commitments and demands of the position are some examples of occasions that can severely anxiety or even derail any administration. These situations are frequently beyond a superintendent's immediate management. The function of this article, even so, is to aid recognize some of the aspects that a man or woman seeking to acquire or retain a superintendent position does have handle more than. It would be sensible to examine these aspects both prior to and after being seated as a superintendent in purchase to decrease the probabilities of operating into issues. Culled from my thirty many years of knowledge as a school administrator, here is a checklist of seven potential problem circumstances-along with some guidelines on how to navigate them ought to they occur: 1. Make positive there is a very good match between oneself and the school board providing a contract. Finding a very good match indicates conducting a cautious two-way examination of mutual core values in order to make sure that a reliable alignment exists before accepting a contract. Naturally, views on what is important in educating students, personnel management philosophies, and budgetary priorities are essential, but also think about a lot more discrete values of the board and community, this kind of as political beliefs, socio-economic problems, and the historical context of preceding administrations. These all go into the mix in figuring out a excellent match. If you don't have a good match--just like in a marriage--things are bound to john ramirez jr go wrong someplace down the line. Keep in thoughts that the views at first expressed by board members are often reflective of the community at huge. It will be problematic for each you and the college board if a fundamental big difference in core values is ultimately revealed. Stroll away from a contract if you characterize oneself as a constructivist, collaborative leader with a progressive orientation when the board employing you is searching for a traditionalist, top-down manager with a conservative mindset. john ramirez jr