Guidance for ever-changing challenges, success through improved effectiveness Equip yourself to face the demands of a superintendent with this practical guide for new and veteran school leaders. Understanding leadership and budgets is only one piece of a pie that has grown to include privatization, performance-based teacher compensation, technology, and global comparisons like PISA. Based on 15 years of research with 300 superintendents, including members of the National Superintendents Roundtable, The Superintendent's Fieldbook will become your touchstone for practical advice that you can implement today. The authors developed this new edition to help you Navigate difficult situations through sample cases and tips for action Lead with an eye on global impacts by illuminating education abroad Understand the Common Core standards as explained by fellow superintendents Explore instructional coaching and rounds as professional learning opportunities "This remarkable book for new as well as veteran superintendents is thoroughly researched, practical, and compelling. If I could have but one book on my shelf to support the all-encompassing work we do, The Superintendent's Fieldbook would be the one." -Suzanne Cusick, Superintendent Longview School District, WA "I've found most guides for superintendents to be long on theory and short on practical advice. The Superintendent's Fieldbook doesn't make that mistake. This is where school leaders and aspiring superintendents can learn how to survive on the job, bargain like a pro, engage with the public, and work with their boards while tackling the achievement gap and explaining to the public what's right with American schools." -Gloria J. Davis, Superintendent Decatur Public Schools, Decatur, IL
"Much of what we know about how to be successful in our roles as superintendent is generally learned the hard way. Having a resource to turn to in an effort to mitigate the trial and error nature of our approaches in dealing with the challenges of today's superintendency provides a compelling reason to pick up the book." Howard Smith, Superintendent of Schools Public Schools of the Tarrytowns, Sleepy Hollow, NY "New and current superintendents, or prospective school leaders should read this book. I think the authors tied in a lot of leadership theory and practices that would compliment individual styles of school superintendents." Gina Segobiano, Superintendent Signal Hill School District, Belleville, Illinois Learn how to navigate effectively through the new demands facing districts and schools! The goals and challenges for district leaders are constantly changing. Leadership and governance are only parts of the puzzle when other elements such as the NCLB legislation, budgets, standards and assessment, changing demographics, and public engagement are brought into the picture. Today's superintendent needs an effective tool to help steer the school district to success. Drawing on the experiences of nearly 200 superintendents over the past ten years, The Superintendent's Fieldbook offers guidance that can be referenced again and again. Written for current and future superintendents, principals, school board members and teachers, this valuable guide is divided into nine sections--each offering ideas to implement, practical lessons, exercises, and questions for reflective practice. The authors identify seven key "commonplaces" of the successful modern superintendent including: Leading within a governance structure Understanding and addressing standards and assessment Considering race, class, and the achievement gap Developing your schools' principals from building managers to leaders of learning Exploring collaborations with agencies of government and organizational allies Engaging your community to construct a shared vision of the future Vignettes describing real events and situations will help you connect lessons learned to your own district experiences, and help you and your district thrive in the rapidly changing world of education.
