Eight at the top : a view inside public education / Gloria L. Johnston ... [and others].

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Johnston, Gloria L., 1947-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

School superintendents--United States--Anecdotes.

School superintendents.

Educational leadership--United States--Anecdotes.

Educational leadership.

United States.

Genre:

Anecdotes.

Physical Description:

xviii, 142 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Scarecrow Education ; [s.l.] : Published with the American Association of School Administrators, 2002.

Summary:

There are over 15,000 superintendents leading school districts across the United States today. Yet, despite the high visibility and prestige of the position, what superintendents actually do, on a day-to-day basis, remains mysterious to the layman and even to those in the profession. This book, authored by eight California superintendents, is a narrative telling their stories- from the professional side as well as the personal. It traces their beginnings as teachers, follows their moves into administration, and looks at the skills that they use to communicate, analyze, and succeed.

Contents:

1 Knowing Your Community 1

Do Your Research 2

Learning about a New Community 2

Not Knowing Your Community Can Backfire 6

There Is No "One" Community 9

Communities Are Always Changing 10

Channeling the Energy of Special Interest Groups 10

Attempting to Bring the Community Together 11

Rising to Community Expectations: Fire at the Middle School 14

Developing Community Relationships 16

Removing Barriers to Serve Families 16

Don't Forget the "Ordinary People" 17

Living Treasures 18

Seniors for Schools: An Invaluable Resource 19

Service Club Partnerships: A Gold Mine of Support 21

Partnering for Win-Win Outcomes 22

The Media Is the Community, Too 23

Media Relations as Art, Not Science 23

The Long Walk to the Morning Paper 27

When the Media Calls 28

2 Knowing Your Board 31

Your Board Is Your Boss 32

Bossy, Bossy 32

The Complexity of Multiple Bosses 33

Boards Who Love You Can Be Difficult 35

Building the Board Team 37

Assumptions: Don't Make Them 37

Tips on Handling Board Elections 39

Revolving Board Members 41

Orientation and Ongoing Training 42

No Surprises 43

The Wavy Line Between Policy and Administration 45

Revisiting the Board's Purpose 45

Honoring Board Policy 47

Shaping Up Board Policies 49

Board Meetings: Getting Down to Real Business 50

Planning the Meeting 51

Board Meeting Twists Keep You on Your Toes 55

Recovering from the Meeting 56

3 Knowing Your Organization and Its People 59

Figuring Out What's Going On 60

Listen First 60

Shifting the Power Structure 61

Getting Your Priorities Straight: The Importance of Showing Up 62

Establishing and Reinforcing District Priorities 65

Organizing for Action: Word for the Year 67

Building Capacity and Cementing Relationships 68

Communicating with Unions 68

Giving a Boost 69

Tending to the People Business 70

Knowing You Found the Right Person 70

Personnel Evaluation: Giving Honest Feedback 71

Dealing with a Moral Issue 72

The Big Principal Switch 74

Keeping an Eye on the Future 76

Blame or Aim: Getting There Together 76

Future Leaders Program 76

Leaving a Legacy 78

4 Knowing Your Students 83

Motivating Young People 83

The DARE Graduation: Setting Goals 83

Continuation High Schools Get a Bad Rap 85

The Perfect Graduation Story 86

The Way Youngsters Energize Us 87

Arturo's Drawing 87

What's Wrong with Your Face? 88

The Fingerprint Apron 89

Being a Champion for Youth 90

Promotion Program Causes Chaos 90

Jose and Alejandro 93

Andrew 94

Maximizing Connections for Students 95

Connecting with Students 97

Growing Tall 97

School as a Safe Haven 98

The Honesty of Children 99

When a Student Dies 101

Tragedy Strikes 103

CoSA 104

5 Knowing Yourself 107

Personal Qualities That Count 108

Being Calm in the Face of Adversity 108

Collegial Kindness: Giving and Gaining Courage 108

Listening and Listening Well! 109

Being Ethical 110

Sources of Guidance and Inspiration 111

My Personal Board of Directors: Relationships Built for a Lifetime 111

Treasure Your Past to Inspire Your Future 112

Call a Colleague 113

Professional Development Never Ends 114

The Dilemma of Taking Time for Development 114

What Happens When You're Gone 115

Learning to Laugh with Colleagues 116

Surviving and Thriving 118

Being a Good Target 118

Caught in the Middle and Working to Take Control 119

Having a Vision Means You're Never Unprepared 120

Knowing When It's Time to Leave 122

Gaining and Keeping Perspective 124

The Jigsaw Puzzle: The Pieces Eventually Fit 124

The Heart Monitor: Ups and Downs Are Normal 125

Taking Care of Yourself 126

Balancing Self, Spouse, and Family 126

Enhancing Your Environment 127.

Notes:

Includes index.

ISBN:

0810842157

OCLC:

47964681