Three rural district superintendents were asked to share their thoughts about managing rural school systems. Generally, rural superintendents must have wide-ranging educational interests, stay informed of current research, be actively involved in curriculum development, stretch scarce resources, and deal effectively with diverse personalities and…

Interim superintendencies, signaling an interruption in administrative continuity, are growing in duration and number. The right interim superintendent at the right time can bring respite, focus, or unity to a troubled or divided district. Today's mobile, activist interims often make critical decisions affecting their districts' long-term future.…

When a crisis erupts in a school district, delivering a curt "no comment" to the news media is simply not adequate today. Open and honest communication is necessary to allay fears and dispel rumors. But knowing what to say, how to say it and who will say it can be difficult to determine in times of crises. Before troubles arise, it is wise to…

In this article, the author suggests that if there is one thing that can be said about nontraditional superintendents--the men and women of business, government and the military who leave those fields to become school system leaders--it is that they never take the easy job. "School districts tend to look outside for a superintendent only when…

In this article, the author discusses the importance of continuing to engage with students even when in an administration position. He states that a good superintendent has to be the personification of the resilient, reflective lifelong learner he or she wants the graduates to be. Sections in the article include: (1) Compelling Need; (2)…

Successful administrators practice time management by delegating effectively and scheduling blocks of time to work without interruption. In addition, they set clear goals for meetings, avoid unnecessary meetings, and use weekly and monthly calendars. (MLF)

On the surface, Michael Moher's major challenges as a superintendent do not seem so foreign from any other leader who is responsible for the education of 28,000 students. He has been grappling in recent years with budget shortfalls, school closings, a couple of dissident board members and even a week-long teacher's strike. Moher runs a Catholic…

Kevin Mitchell's calling card once read "criminal investigator," when his days and nights brought him to the scene of burglaries, assaults and any other felonies or misdemeanors reported to the sheriffs department in Buffalo, Wyo. Now his professional mission is nothing less than spearheading a battle for survival of a sparsely populated…

School attorney suggests strategies related to personnel selection and dismissal that superintendents can employ to reduce the risk of special-education litigation. (PKP)

Advice about the role of the superintendent in the grievance and arbitration process: Be sure you are not violating the teachers' contract; check past practice; examine the basis of your decision; work closely with the school board's attorney; and plan for future related questions. (MLF)

Describes use of Environmental Protection Agency's Tools for Schools tool kit to improve indoor air quality aimed specifically at eliminating asthma triggers such as dust mites and mold. Includes several examples of school district efforts to reduce or eliminate student health problems associated with poor indoor air quality. (PKP)

AASA's new "Professional Standards for the Superintendency" specifies benchmarks for improving selection, preparation, development of America's school superintendents. Superintendents will be expected to work more as decentralized enablers than centralized controllers. Standards will increase respect for superintendency, encourage the…

"Professional Standards for the Superintendency" underscore the importance of the superintendent's role in developing well-educated young people and document the extraordinary range of skills, competencies, and values required of today's superintendents. Ethically defining these requirements, without homogenizing them, will help produce school…

Recently, the National Center for Educational Leadership surveyed 35 Kentucky superintendents about changing roles since passage of the 1990 Kentucky Education Reform Act. Results showed that superintendents were learning to lead from the background, enhancing all stakeholders' participation, and working hard to manage reform requirements. Many…

Offers several recommendations to board of education on involving the incumbent superintendent in the search for a new superintendent. (PKP)