Eight at the Top

Gloria Johnston; Gwen Gross; Rene Townsend; Peggy Lynch; Pat Novotney

doi:10.5771/9781461648833

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.

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Bibliographic data

Copyright year: 2001
ISBN-Print: 978-0-8108-4215-1
ISBN-Online: 978-1-4616-4883-3
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 142
Product type: Book Titles

1. Contents No access
2. Foreword No access
3. Quotes from the Authors No access
4. Preface No access
1. 1. Learning about a New Community No access
  2. Not Knowing Your Community Can Backfire No access
2. 1. Communities Are Always Changing No access
  2. Channeling the Energy of Special Interest Groups No access
  3. Attempting to Bring the Community Together No access
  4. Rising to Community Expectations: Fire at the Middle School No access
3. 1. Removing Barriers to Serve Families No access
  2. Don't Forget the "Ordinary People" No access
  3. Living Treasures No access
  4. Seniors for Schools: An Invaluable Resource No access
  5. Service Club Partnerships: A Gold Mine of Support No access
  6. Partnering for Win-Win Outcomes No access
4. 1. Media Relations as Art, Not Science No access
  2. The Long Walk to the Morning Paper No access
  3. When the Media Calls No access
5. Lessons Learned No access
1. 1. Bossy, Bossy No access
  2. The Complexity of Multiple Bosses No access
  3. Boards Who Love You Can Be Difficult No access
2. 1. Assumptions: Don't Make Them No access
  2. Tips on Handling Board Elections No access
  3. Revolving Board Members No access
  4. Orientation and Ongoing Training No access
  5. No Surprises No access
3. 1. Revisiting the Board's Purpose No access
  2. Honoring Board Policy No access
  3. Shaping Up Board Policies No access
4. 1. Planning the Meeting No access
  2. Board Meeting Twists Keep You on Your Toes No access
  3. Recovering from the Meeting No access
5. Lessons Learned No access
1. 1. Listen First No access
  2. Shifting the Power Structure No access
  3. Getting Your Priorities Straight: The Importance of Showing Up No access
  4. Establishing and Reinforcing District Priorities No access
2. Organizing for Action: Word for the Year No access
3. 1. Communicating with Unions No access
  2. Giving a Boost No access
4. 1. Knowing You Found the Right Person No access
  2. Personnel Evaluation: Giving Honest Feedback No access
  3. Dealing with a Moral Issue No access
  4. The Big Principal Switch No access
5. 1. Blame or Aim: Getting There Together No access
  2. Future Leaders Program No access
  3. Leaving a Legacy No access
6. Lessons Learned No access
1. 1. The DARE Graduation: Setting Goals No access
  2. Continuation High Schools Get a Bad Rap No access
  3. The Perfect Graduation Story No access
2. 1. Arturo's Drawing No access
  2. What's Wrong with Your Face? No access
  3. The Fingerprint Apron No access
3. 1. Promotion Program Causes Chaos No access
  2. Jose and Alejandro No access
  3. Andrew No access
  4. Maximizing Connections for Students No access
4. 1. Growing Tall No access
  2. School as a Safe Haven No access
  3. The Honesty of Children No access
  4. When a Student Dies No access
  5. Tragedy Strikes No access
  6. CoSA No access
5. Lessons Learned No access
1. 1. Being Calm in the Face of Adversity No access
  2. Collegial Kindness: Giving and Gaining Courage No access
  3. Listening and Listening Well! No access
  4. Being Ethical No access
2. 1. My Personal Board of Directors: Relationships Built for a Lifetime No access
  2. Treasure Your Past to Inspire Your Future No access
  3. Call a Colleague No access
3. 1. The Dilemma of Taking Time for Development No access
  2. What Happens When You're Gone No access
  3. Learning to Laugh with Colleagues No access
4. 1. Being a Good Target No access
  2. Caught in the Middle and Working to Take Control No access
  3. Having a Vision Means You're Never Unprepared No access
5. Knowing When It's Time to Leave No access
6. 1. The Jigsaw Puzzle: The Pieces Eventually Fit No access
  2. The Heart Monitor: Ups and Downs Are Normal No access
7. 1. Balancing Self, Spouse, and Family No access
  2. Enhancing Your Environment No access
8. Final Story No access
9. Lessons Learned No access
Index No access Pages 133 - 136
About the Authors No access Pages 137 - 142