A typical classroom today is a jigsaw puzzle of learners. It is not unusual for a teacher to have in one class students from multiple cultures, bringing with them varied degrees of proficiency with English and an impressive array of learning exceptionalities (both identified and not identified), as well as a broad array of economic backgrounds.…

Escalating conflicts over issues involving sexual orientation in public schools often pit conservative Christians against proponents of gay rights--with school leaders caught in the crossfire. Some beleaguered school administrators attempt to put a lid on the controversy by censoring student expression on one side or the other. But that tactic…

A story about superintendents hired to manage two districts finds they exercise good organizational skills--and a lot of hustle--to succeed in this unique role. They don't discount the downsides and do question the money savings involved. Superintendents doing double duty is nothing new, particularly among the hundreds of small districts scattered…

Superintendents know they work and live in a giant fishbowl. School board members, teachers, community members and the news media have been known to scrutinize what kind of vehicle they drive, who they socialize with outside of work, whether they drink alcohol, where they live and when they leave the house each morning. But when the harsh glare of…

Business and industry leaders do not flinch at the idea of placing top talent in struggling departments and divisions. This is not always the case in public education. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools made a bold statement to its community in its strategic plan by identifying two key reform levers--(1) an effective principal leading each school;…

Every program in a school or school district has, or once had, a purpose. The purpose was most likely promoted, argued and debated among school constituencies--parents, teachers, administrators and school board members--before it was eventually approved. This process occurs year after year, budget after budget. In itself, this is not necessarily a…

For some superintendents' families, living in the school district of employment can have its perks. Sometimes even living in a neighboring community has its difficulties. This article discusses some issues when superintendents and their families decide to stay or to leave a community.

Twice a year, leaders from seven school districts from around the nation meet to discuss college life. They address the common problem of college readiness in their collective work to better prepare students for a productive future. While consortium members oversee school districts that are leaders in their respective states in terms of test…

For the last five years, the lives of New York City (NYC) public school educators have been governed by constant change. With certainty, every January or June heralded something new--restructured departments and offices, staff changes and new initiatives. One of the most interesting chapters in the history of the NYC school system unfolded in the…

At the start of the third millennium, people are well-attuned to considerations of the future. In citing the future, the author refers to trends whose existence is widely acknowledged: the increasing power of science and technology; the interconnectedness of the world in economic, cultural and social terms; and the incessant circulation and…

The idea behind public charter schools was to develop flexible models of public schools and to incubate innovative ideas that then could be shared with the district's public schools. Today, almost 20 years since the first public charter school opened its doors in Minnesota, one still does not see consistent, productive collaboration and shared…

In his book "The Speed of Trust," Stephen Covey identifies trust as the one thing that, if missing, will "destroy the most powerful government, the most successful business, the most thriving economy, the most influential leadership, the greatest friendship, the strongest character, the deepest love." When the Creative-Moniker…

As superintendents, most of them have experienced meetings in which they were able to hear the angry crowd, listen deeply to it, and bring people together. In this article, the author shares how she copes with difficult meetings. Through the years, the author has learned that it takes hard work, the kind of ongoing lifetime work that involves…

The list of issues confronting education leaders today seems to be growing longer, with school wellness being pushed to the forefront by the surge in childhood obesity rates. Whether walking the halls of the schools or the local shopping mall, it is easy to see why society needs to adopt healthier lifestyles. That is why more community leaders,…

Newsletters, websites, local access television and community newspapers serve as the typical media superintendents use to get the word out to parents and public. One might logically ask, "Isn't that enough to deal with?" School superintendents with so much to communicate need to move beyond a reliance on the traditional media outlets. These no…