Weston Public Schools 2016 Superintendent Search Leadership Profile Report Executive Summary Prepared for the Weston Board of Education Superintendent Search Committee By Cooperative Educational Services Trumbull, CT 06611 March 7, 2016
WESTON SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH 2016 LEADERSHIP PROFILE REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 2 Introduction 4 Demographics 5 Professional Experience 6 Achievement Record 8 Education Background 10 Significant Challenges 11 Personal Characteristics 14 Significant Issues 17 Appendix A (Focus Group Results) 20 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Weston Board of Education employed the services of Executive Search Services at Cooperative Educational Services to facilitate its search for a new superintendent of schools. The initial phase of the search process involved an online survey and focus groups in order to determine the most desirable attributes of a new superintendent. A total of 49 people participated in one of six focus group sessions that were conducted on February 24, 2016 and 313 participants completed an online survey that was accessible from February 10-26, 2016. Detailed results of both the online survey and focus groups follow this summary. The following selection criteria are derived from these results and are summarized here for the Weston Board of Education consideration. Recommended Selection Criteria: 1. Superintendent experience is preferred but not necessary if the candidate demonstrates the desired personal and leadership qualities. 2. The new superintendent should demonstrate an understanding of teaching and leading in a contemporary public school. 3. The new superintendent should be capable of supporting teachers and school leaders; meet the demands of various school reform initiatives. 4. The new superintendent will need to be able to build a positive school district culture that supports learning, teaching, innovation, promotes excellence, and engages in processes of continuous improvement. 5. The new superintendent will need to sustain strong relationships with town officials and community agencies through collaborative partnerships and effectively functioning teams. 6. The new superintendent must be an excellent communicator, advocating for students, staff and schools in a credible, sensible manner by being visible and active at school and community events. 7. A doctorate degree is not necessary for success in this position. Personal qualities such as experience, leadership skills and interpersonal skills are viewed as more important. All of these attributes being equal, the doctorate degree would be preferred. 8. The new superintendent should be adept at team building, using expertise wisely and faculty development in the context of long-term planning. 9. The new superintendent should possess acumen in all aspects of budgeting, especially in communicating budget issues in a clear, credible manner to various stakeholder groups. 2
10. The new superintendent will need to skillfully assess program effectiveness and address issues where performance expectations are not at a high level. 11. The new superintendent of schools should demonstrate the following personal characteristics: Excellent communication skills, inspirational Highly developed interpersonal skills, evincing a friendly and approachable demeanor to all stakeholders and students Strong ethical values; integrity, honesty, fairness Visionary Innovative; building on the successes of the district A process oriented person, collaborative and inclusive Strength of convictions, advocating for students, teachers and the community Thoughtful decision making; always having students best interest in mind Belief in the importance of education 12. The new superintendent will need to sustain and grow the culture of academic excellence in the schools. 13. The new superintendent will need to manage enrollment decline systematically but with sensitivity and credibility for all stakeholders. 14. The new superintendent will need to create a shared vision for the effective use of technology and take appropriate action to realize that vision. 15. The new superintendent should be committed to the district for a long-term relationship. 3
Introduction The Weston Board of Education has begun its search for a superintendent of schools. It is expected that the new superintendent will begin duties as soon as possible. The goal is to have a Superintendent on board as close to July 1, 2016 as is feasible. The election of a school superintendent is a state-legislated responsibility of the Board of Education. The Board s goal is to find the most qualified person whose background and personal attributes best match the needs and expectations of the school district and the Weston Community. The Board of Education believes that assessing school and community opinion about desirable leadership attributes for a new superintendent will enable the development of a leadership profile to assist in the recruitment and selection of a superintendent of schools. To that end, the Board of Education has contracted with Cooperative Educational Services (C.E.S.) Executive Search Services. In order to develop this profile and community assessment, search consultants Tom Jokubaitis and James Ritchie prepared an online survey and conducted focus groups with school employees, students, and community members. In conducting the focus group sessions, C.E.S. consultants use a structured framework of questions. The intent of the framework is to seek opinions from each focus group as to what group members perceive to be the most desirable skills, qualifications, background of experiences, and personal qualities that Weston would like to see in the Superintendent. Six focus group sessions were conducted on February 24, 2016 for the following groups: (1) Public officials; (2) Administrators; (3) Elementary school teachers; (4) Secondary teachers; (5) High school students; and (6) Parents and community members. A total of 49 people participated in the focus groups. Each focus group began with introductions and clarification of purpose and the processes to be used in soliciting participant opinions. Consultants indicated they were there to listen to the opinions of the participants, to facilitate group discussion, and to answer questions about search procedures. Each focus group used guiding questions to frame their responses for the consultants. Responses were recorded and participants were asked to verify the accuracy of the record of responses to each question before moving on to the next. Questions focused on (1) Background experiences; (2) Achievement record; (3) Education background; (4) Expertise; (5) Personal qualities; and (6) Important issues. The record of opinions for each group can be found at the end of this report in Appendix A. In addition to the focus group sessions, an online survey was accessible to all Weston residents and school employees from February 10-26, 2016. The online survey utilized questions similar to those included in the focus group question framework. Data from the online survey and focus groups are blended in determining the recommended list of priority attributes for a new superintendent of schools. The Weston Community should take pride in the fact that 49 people participated in focus group sessions and 313 people responded to the survey. This report represents a composite of the Weston community s vision of its next superintendent of schools. Upon review and acceptance 4
Respondents of this report by the Board of Education, it will be posted on the district website. The profile of the ideal superintendent presented in this report will serve as basic criteria for the Board of Education as it focuses on the recruitment and selection of a superintendent of schools. The consultants and Board of Education express their sincere appreciation for those who took time to attend focus group sessions and/or participate in the online survey. Demographics: A total of 313 people took time to complete the online survey that was accessible for thirteen days. Respondents may have checked more than one category (334 for all categories checked). Survey Demographics 200 190 150 100 50 30 34 52 21 2 0 Resident, nonparent Parent of a Weston Public Schools student Student Weston Public Schools, certified staff Weston Public Schools, noncertified staff Town Official Demographics Response Percent by Category Category Number Percent Resident, Non-parent 30 8.98% Parent 190 56.9% Student 34 10.2% Certified Staff 52 15.6% Non-certified Staff 21 6.3% Town Official 2 0.59% Other 5 1.5% Total: 334 Others are represented by a parent of a former student, retired teacher, former student, parent of parochial school student, parent of future student, former non-certified staff member, and club advisor. 5
In addition to the online survey, six focus group sessions were conducted with participation rates as indicated below: Observations: Focus Group Participants Administrators 11 Elementary teachers 9 Middle and high school teachers 6 Parents and community 9 Public officials 6 High school students 8 Total: 49 The total number of online survey responses and their distribution across categories provides a breadth and depth of perceptions of school district stakeholders. Parents of school-age children and teachers represent the largest number of respondents, followed by students and resident non-parents. This demonstrates a high interest in the schools and the selection of a new superintendent of schools. It is noteworthy that the First Selectman participated in the focus group session for public officials and that is clearly an indication of the importance of this position to the community. The focus groups and online survey addressed six basic themes as indicated by the following summary for each question. Professional Experience: Q 1. What work experience should the next superintendent have in his/her background? It is clear that the majority of survey respondents want their new superintendent to have considerable leadership experience at all levels of the school organization, as well as classroom teacher experience. In addition, superintendent experience or central office leadership is also regarded as important. Experience Response Number Response Percent Superintendent 183 20.6% Principal 223 25.1% Classroom Teacher 195 21.9% CO administrator or Assistant 123 13.9% CO Supervisor 92 19.4% Private Sector Leadership 72 8.1% 6
Respondents The following graph indicates the distribution of opinion about the types of experiences desired in a new superintendent of schools. Professional Experience 250 183 200 150 100 50 0 223 195 123 92 72 Experiences of candidate Focus group opinions are summarized in the following: This is a highly visible and important position for this community. The new superintendent should have the following background of experience: Prior superintendent experience would be most beneficial but significant central office leadership would suffice, as long as the candidate demonstrated the desired personal and leadership qualities The new superintendent, ideally, has experience at multiple levels of school district organization, including classroom teaching and building level leadership; the critical attribute is that the person can demonstrate an understanding of the work demands in the contemporary school and can provide appropriate supports for teachers and administrators Suggested selection criteria: Superintendent experience is preferred but not necessary if the candidate demonstrates the desired personal and leadership qualities The new superintendent should demonstrate an understanding of teaching and leading in a contemporary public school 7
The new superintendent should be capable of supporting teachers and school leaders meet the demands of various school reform and improvement initiatives Achievement Record Expertise: Q 2. What kind of achievement record or expertise do you believe the new superintendent should have to demonstrate? The following table demonstrates the category and frequency of online survey participant opinion related to this question. Achievement/Expertise Response Number Response Percent Creating positive, healthy, and supportive 222 22.1% learning environments Recruitment and retention of high quality 159 15.8% personnel Building a culture of excellence 141 14.0% Advocating for students. Staff, schools and 122 12.2% the community Building an effective, collaborative 116 11.6% leadership team Supporting a culture of school and district 103 10.3% innovation Creating positive school/district cultures 101 10.1% Providing high quality professional 70 6.9% development Creating a climate of trust in the 60 5.9% community Strategic planning 57 5.7% Maintaining effective relationships with 33 3.3% town officials Effective implementation of supervision 24 2.4% and evaluation Increasing organizational productivity 25 0.25% 8
Respondents Achievement Record/Expertise 250 200 150 100 50 0 141 116 222 101 25 60 33 70 24 159 57 103 Achievements Online survey participants consider three topics as priority issues in this category: (1) building a positive, healthy and supportive environment [for learning and teaching]; (2) recruitment and retention of high quality personnel; and (3) building a culture of excellence. The next three high interest topics reinforce these sentiments: (4) advocating for students, staff, and the schools; (5) building a collaborative leadership team; and, (6) supporting a culture of innovation. The following statements were written in by various survey participants (12) in the other category: Building trust and strong relationships with all district employees Supporting art and music; enriching culture (3) Honesty Focus on social-emotional health of students Initiatives should address a real need and result in real improvement A safe environment for LGBT students; school does not feel safe Individualized education Maintain a culture of excellence Everyone rowing in the same direction Fiscal responsibility ~ declining enrollments ~ economic efficiency; Achieve budget decreases (3) Special education 9
Focus group summary: There are several consistent themes that emerge throughout the focus groups in this category: There is great concern about ensuring that the school district has a positive culture as well as a supportive community culture. This is manifest in such factors as collaborative decision making, community partnerships, trusting and positive working relationships, community pride in the schools, and effectively functioning teams. The pursuit of excellence is a hallmark of this school district. The new superintendent must be willing to sustain and grow a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement throughout the district. This will require a positive and healthy work environment, optimism, and a high energy level. Excellence in communication is a necessary skillset. The superintendent is the face of the school district and must be able to advocate for the students and schools in a credible, sensible manner that builds trust and confidence in all stakeholders. Being visible in schools and at community events and engaging people constructively at these events will facilitate effective communication. Suggested selection criteria: The new superintendent will need to be able to build a positive school district culture that supports learning, teaching, innovation, promotes excellence, and engages in processes of continuous improvement. The new superintendent will need to sustain strong relationships with town officials and community agencies through collaborative partnerships and effectively functioning teams The new superintendent must be an excellent communicator, advocating for students, staff, and schools in a credible, sensible manner by being visible and active in schools and at community events Education Background: Q 3. Should the next superintendent have a doctoral degree? The online survey results are illustrated on the following graph. 10
Respondents Should a doctoral degree be required? 200 170 150 100 73 71 50 0 Yes Preferred but not necessarily Answer to question No Online survey participants indicate that 54.1% do not think a doctorate is necessary, 22.6% think it is preferred but not necessary, and 23.2% think it should be a requirement. Considering the second and third options of this question, 76.7% of respondents would agree that the doctorate degree is not necessary, provided that personal qualities and leadership skills are as desired. All focus group participants think a doctorate degree would be beneficial. However, a large majority of participants consider the personal qualities of an individual, such as experience, leadership skill, and interpersonal skills to be more important for success on the job. A few participants in two groups think the community expectation would be for the successful candidate to possess a doctoral degree. Suggested selection criterion: A doctorate degree is not necessary for success in this position. Personal qualities such as experience, leadership skill, and interpersonal skills are viewed as more important. All of these attributes being equal, the doctorate degree would be preferred. Significant Challenges: Q 4. Given your understanding of the Weston Public Schools, what are the most significant challenges that will face a new superintendent? The following chart displays the number and percent of responses for each item in Question 4. 11
Respondents Challenges Response Number Response Percent Curriculum and instruction 212 17.2% Faculty relations and development 164 13.3% Vision for technology use 141 11.4% Safe and secure facilities 115 9.3% Leadership development 99 8.0% Fiscal management 92 7.4% Budget development 70 5.7% Student activities (sports, 69 5.6% extracurricular, etc.) Special education 47 3.8% Communications 57 4.6% Public relations 50 4.0% Declining enrollment 44 3.6% Negotiations and personnel 39 3.2% Policy and governance 36 2.9% Greatest Challenges 250 200 150 100 50 0 115 141 39 164 36 50 99 212 69 47 70 92 44 57 19 Challenges Eighteen online survey participants chose to write-in additional comments. These are summarized below: 12
Need to understand what it is really like for students; students activities (3) Hire the next superintendent from within the district Support theater arts; fine and performing arts (3) Expertise in a key area Do not have to change things for the district to succeed; understands what makes the district great (2) Progressive education Increasing enrollment Innovative Build a better gifted curriculum Strive for excellence; do not accept less Understands the value of all disciplines, not just the traditional Special education Online survey participants think that curriculum and instruction (17.2%) is by far the top challenge that will be facing a new superintendent of schools. This is followed by faculty relations and development (13.3%) and a vision for the use of technology (11.4%). The next highest priorities are safe and secure facilities (9.3%), leadership development (8.0%), and fiscal management (7.4%). Focus group participants identified a number of challenges where the new superintendent should possess or have the capacity to quickly develop understanding and skill. What the next superintendent will need to be good at encompass the following: Utilizing available expertise wisely; examine the organization for effective deployment of human resources [people in places required to achieve school and district goals] Building, managing, and communicating the school district budget effectively and creatively; preferably with a long-term outlook anticipating needs and identifying efficiencies. Looking at programs and services objectively to determine if results measure up to expectations for all students; challenge the status quo Faculty development, coalescing people into supportive groups unified to achieve the district vision and mission Long-term planning in an era of enrollment decline; addressing facility and human resource issues in a timely and sensitive manner High school students desire to have their voices heard and hope to engage the new superintendent in conversations about their views and needs 13
Discussion: The result of the online survey and focus groups requires some discussion as several of the higher priorities here tie-in to other sections of this report. The online survey highest priority of curriculum and instruction probably ties into the Common Core State Standards as such relates to a positive and supportive climate, faculty development, and using expertise wisely. Faculty relations ties into creating a positive and supportive environment for teaching and learning as the district pursues its quest for excellence; a clear vision for future use of technology is also linked to these challenges as well. Suggested selection criteria: The new superintendent should be adept at team building, using expertise wisely, and faculty development in the context of long-term planning The new superintendent should possess acumen in all aspects of budgeting, especially in communicating budget issues in a clear, credible manner to various stakeholder groups The new superintendent will need to skillfully assess program effectiveness and address issues where performance expectations are not at a high level Personal Characteristics: Q 5. What personal characteristics best define your ideal superintendent? The following chart displays category and number of responses to the question of desirable personal characteristics. Personal Characteristics - N= 311 Online Survey Respondents Category Frequency of Mention Good communication skill; listening; clear; values opinions 142 of others Approachable friendly; visible 123 Ethical values; integrity; honesty; fair 80 Proven success in a high performing district; pursues 59 excellence; passionate about education Innovative; creative 40 Visionary; proactive 38 Decisions based on what is best for students; thoughtful; 35 problem solver; decisive; strategic thinker 14
Interpersonal skills; engaging 32 Ability to lead with reason; strong; energetic 31 Collaborative consensus builder 24 Supports staff; professional development 23 Kind, thoughtful; empathizes; caring 21 Culture of trust 16 Intelligent 16 Cares about children ; pressures 16 Independent thinker; strength of convictions 14 Flexible 14 Long-term commitment; sense of community 11 Vision for technology 10 Budget; declining enrollment; business acumen 10 Advocates for the schools; students 10 Management skills 8 Curriculum choices; TC programs 7 Team builder 7 School/district culture; friendly environment 7 Recruitment and retention of high quality staff 7 Community minded; public outreach 6 Community minded; public outreach 6 Plans; measures beyond test scores 5 Calm demeanor; professional 4 Supports the arts 4 Dedicated to continued learning 3 Political savvy 3 Common sense 3 Delegates 3 Sense of humor 2 Special education 2 Discipline; zero tolerance 1 Academic and curriculum excellence 1 Safety and security 1 Servant leadership 1 Inspirational 1 Classroom experience 1 The results clearly show that good communications skills, including listening to and valuing the opinion of others, is of high importance; along with being friendly, approachable, and visible in the schools and at community events. Weston residents and school personnel place high value on the ability of their school leader to communicate with clarity, credibility, and conviction. 15
They are also concerned that this person has a friendly demeanor, welcoming opportunities to engage others in conversation in the schools and community. Attributes of integrity, honesty, and fairness are also important. The new superintendent should have a passion for education and a commitment to the pursuit of excellence. This is a high performing district that looks to get better continuous improvement is a part of its culture. The third cluster of desirable attributes speaks to a strong leader who makes decisions based upon what is best for students. This leader has a clear vision for the future of the school district and welcomes others to join in innovative, creative thinking about possibilities to enhance learning opportunities for all children and brings these ideas to fruition. It is difficult to dismiss any of the desirable qualities listed. All have some bearing on the ability of a new superintendent to establish him/herself as the educational leader in this community. Focus group results closely resemble the online survey results, as presented below: The new superintendent should possess the following characteristics: Friendly and approachable with well-developed people skills; someone who likes people and is comfortable interacting with children, exuding warmth and an ability to easily connect with them A process oriented person who listens, believes in the importance of education, and is thoughtful in making decisions; a person who has strength of convictions and advocates for children, teachers, the schools, and the community A person who is passionate about education and exhibits ethical values A great communicator; open, honest, transparent, and inspirational; is able to deal effectively with the demands of the community and is viewed as credible and knowledgeable Innovative, creative, flexible, and builds upon the success of the school district Discussion: There is an overall consistency in the results of the online survey and focus groups. There are 43 categories of attributes mentioned from a total of 313 survey participants. It is a tightly grouped set of responses, even more so when the lesser mentioned categories are not considered. What seems remarkable to the consultants is the way in which this community has distinguished itself from other communities who have recently sought new district leadership. While the emphasis on excellence in communication, approachability, and ethics is not unusual, placing such high value on vision, innovation, strategic thinking, and the pursuit of excellence is not typical. Being a kind, empathetic, thoughtful, and caring superintendent is also not often 16
expressed in such groups. While budgetary issues are serious concerns, they have received less attention here than it typically does in other districts. Those that claim Weston is a unique community and school district have solid justification for those sentiments. Suggested selection criteria: The new superintendent of schools should demonstrate the following personal characteristics: Excellent communication skills, inspirational Highly developed interpersonal skills, evincing a friendly an approachable demeanor to all stakeholders and students Strong ethical values; integrity, honesty, fairness Visionary Important Issues: Innovative; building on the successes of the district A process oriented person, collaborative and inclusive Strength of convictions, advocating for students, teachers, and the community Thoughtful decision making always having students best interest in mind Belief in the importance of education Q 6. Going forward, what are the most important issues facing the Weston Public Schools? This open-ended question was last in the online survey, inviting participants to write in their opinions about the most important issues facing the school district. Each participant had multiple suggestions. The chart below displays the range of issues expressed (40) and the frequency that each issue was mentioned. Important Issues Number of people with write-in responses - N= 311 Category Frequency Maintaining excellence; culture of academic excellence; innovation 107 Declining enrollment 90 Budgets; balancing costs; support 56 Curricula; updated; opportunities 47 Emotional health and safety/security 35 Excellence in teaching; teacher development; termination 30 Technology integration 26 Teacher commitment; retention; recruitment 23 Pressure of staff and students; tests 21 School climate and culture; positive environment 15 SPED services 12 Shared space; facility usage 10 17
Employee morale 9 Leadership 8 Community involvement; relationships 7 Communication 7 Building a sense of community (town and schools) 7 Arts 7 Vision 6 College admittance; guidance 6 Middle School 6 Drugs 6 Facilities; Hurlbutt School 5 Property values/taxes 5 Global citizens 4 Parent/student entitlement 3 Communications 3 STEM 3 Athletics programs 2 Bullying ; discipline 2 Advocate 1 Restructure priorities 1 Cutting edge 1 Senior center 1 Future orientation 1 Strategic planning 1 Kids in the middle 1 Class size 1 Alternative education 1 Mandates 1 The majority of online survey participants identified (1) maintaining a culture of excellence and innovation in the Weston Public Schools as their high priority, followed closely by (2) managing issues associated with declining enrollment. The next two issues receiving most mentions are (3) budget-related concerns ranging from providing more resources to reducing costs and sentiments about balancing needs with costs; and, (4) updating curriculum so it is suited to Weston students with more and varied opportunities. The next cluster of issues are (5) emotional health, safety, and security of staff and students; (6) ensuring excellence of teaching in all classrooms; (7) updating technology and integrating it into the fabric of curriculum and instruction; (8) recruitment and retention of high quality teachers and administrators; and (9) reducing the test-induced pressure on students and teachers. Focus group participants also identified some of the issues cited above as priority concerns. All issues presented by participants are important. Several concerns coalesce around a few themes, 18
as follows: Declining enrollment and related issues; facilities, staffing, budgets, grade reconfiguration, resource deployment all require long-term planning Recruitment and retention of high quality staff; morale is affected by frequent turnover in key leadership positions; succession planning and strategic planning for continuity Keeping students at the forefront of decision-making, policy development, and program initiatives; resist change that is not in the best interest of students Develop a realistic vision for the use of technology in the schools follow-up with wise purchasing decisions and clear expectations for implementing the vision It is important to note that the frequency of mention for important issues may not be the same as their relative importance for action. Issues need to be more clearly defined and placed in the context of what is most important for the schools and community to act upon in order to achieve the vision for the future of the Weston Public Schools. Suggested selection criteria: The new superintendent will need sustain and grow the culture of academic excellence in the schools; decisions must be made in terms of what is best for all students The new superintendent will need to manage enrollment decline systematically but with sensitivity and credibility for all stakeholders The new superintendent will need to create a shared vision for the effective use of technology and take appropriate action to realize that vision The new superintendent should be committed to the district for a long-term relationship 19
APPENDIX A FOCUS GROUP RESULTS High School Students N = 8 Professional Experience: Classroom and administration experience; need to understand life in the school Interacts with students; understands needs and aspirations; forms relationships with students Understands business and schools; a business sense Collaborative decision maker, as appropriate Wise expenditures where most effective and needed; communicates effectively Achievement Record: Willing to challenge the status quo Pursues excellence and innovation Build pride in the district and schools; bring people together Positive, optimistic leadership style Look to achieve excellence in all areas of school programs Systems thinker Some type of business experience might be helpful Empathy and ability to connect with people Education Background: 20
Personal experiences and qualifications more important than the degree; preferred but not necessary Expertise: Fiscal management, budget, public relations Communication more visible in the schools interacting with people Enable student voices Known by students help others understand the work of superintendent Student activities Personal Characteristics: Good communicator Friendly, approachable, out-going Active in community activities Active is school activities (freshmen orientation) Committed to the school district and community Knowledgeable about issues important to the student body Comfortable interacting with students Strong ethical values Passionate about education Important Issues: Realistic vision for technology wise purchasing Facilities comfort air conditioning Recruitment and retention of high quality teachers; ensure all classes are taught by highly qualified teachers; effective assignment of teachers to classes Equity in grading classes and assignments required 21
Need to fix middle school facility; look at how the middle school prepares students for the high school Substitute teachers Final Thoughts: Significance of the student voice Networking important N = 11 Professional Experience: Administrators Teaching and building level administration Personal qualities important; superintendent and central office experience not essential Need to have a district perspective Nice to have experience at different levels Broad perspective and understanding of roles at various levels; needs to understand the work; ability to lead Ability to empathize Understands the nature of the community; no layers of administration here Achievement Record: Supportive and healthy work environment positive energy optimistic Utilize the skills and knowledge of others; build a team and value contributions of people Maintains good relationships with elected official and town agencies Strategic planning and implementation; declining enrollment and space use Commitment to excellence and commitment to continuous improvement 22
Education Background: Personal qualities are more important; history as a continuing learner Expertise: Knows how to manage decline Ability to delegate and trust people to do their job Public relations needs to be maintained effective communication Understands dynamics of grade level organization Understanding of local tax base and impact on education the push and pull in the community Personal Characteristics: Good communicator Strong ethical values Inspirational Process oriented thoughtful Build on district success Incremental change, as needed Approachable and friendly Important Issues: Facilities Build community spirit and fiscal support for strong schools there is some apathy evident in school activities Financing School safety and security Advocate for the schools at local and state levels Final Thoughts: 23
None Public Officials N = 6 Professional Experience: Highly visible position very important in this town Central office or superintendent experience need the district perspective Strong principal experience understands work at multiple school levels Need to keep level of excellence; have had a good five years Need to focus on technology in the future need someone who can lead this initiative needs to have an interest in pursuing this is technologically astute embedding this into the curriculum Collaborative relationships with community Achievement Record: Visibility in the community Collaboration with town agencies encouraging staff to do the same building partnerships in the community Communicates well with the community need to be able to address many different audiences build understanding of what it takes to operate the schools/district People know who the superintendent is viewed as a credible, sensible voice understands the fiscal capacity of the town and what is happening to the jobs of people living here Creative thinker effective problem solver doing more with less Changing economic conditions Education Background: Community perception is that an Ed.D/Ph.D would be expected 24
Personal qualities are more important Preferred but not necessary Needs to really know the subject matter of educational leadership Expertise: All bullets (examples) are important Facility and organizational planning with declining enrollment Fiscal management recognition of the source of revenue and its capacity long-term budget planning Know how to produce a budget that makes gain and gets community support creative management turn savings over to improve opportunities Alignment of planning priorities with schools and community agencies Know how to deal with a highly educated population Bring people together on issues avoid divisiveness Personal Characteristics: Honest transparency give real answers, not scripted be truthful even if the news is not good Tact and discretion Great communication skills Someone who likes people, warmth Comfortable working with others in the community Likes children easily connects Visible at school and community activities Needs to understand how to deal with people in the community needs to be viewed as knowledgeable, credible in the way they communicate with the people Able to be able to deal with a demanding community Important Issues: Reorganization declining enrollments 25
Budget constraints facility issues Outpacing the competition Pursuing excellence and continuing to grow Technology Branding the community and the schools; the best use of technology Develop community support resource sharing help unify the community Have a finger on the pulse of local issues and trends in the larger context Final Thoughts: Openminded to all candidates Manage relationships with boards and agencies N = 6 Professional Experience: Middle and High School Teachers Recent or current classroom experience; understands the work of educating Someone who is able to connect with the schools and the people in the schools Superintendent experience not necessary; need to have central office background need that broad perspective Achievement Record: Understand the needs of classroom teachers how to be supportive Building a collaborative team not a top down leadership style work with people to bring out their best Build a positive district culture and use that to enhance the cultures of each school and departments Knows the teachers and staff in the district; rekindle the social glue that holds the district together a workplace that is family The superintendent Is the face of the district but also a part of the district 26
Builds trust and confidence in schools and community; demonstrate care for others; empower others Creating a healthy and positive learning/work environment Education Background: Personal qualities and relevant experiences are more important than the degree Expertise: There is good representation of the listed expertise in the district leader needs to capitalize on that expertise Streamline organization; become more responsive eliminate redundancies Personal Characteristics: Willing to commit to the district for the long term Trusting Friendly and approachable people skills Believes in the importance of education in our democracy; values education for its own sake Define indicators of success in terms of real student success Recognizes the contributions of teachers to student success Approach new ideas/trends thoughtfully and with deliberation to not latch on to fads; fresh ideas Important Issues: Morale of teachers and staff A cohesive school district Kids are a priority and not a label Kids succeed and are happy in college; not just admittance Pressure on kids to achieve; current measures may not be appropriate Do not teach to the test; teach relevant curriculum; address the needs of the average student 27
Address needs of non-college bound; consider social-emotional development of students Special education is highly regarded and people move to town for these services Final Thoughts: N = 9 None Professional Experience: Elementary School Teachers and Staff Tech savvy conversant with technology Superintendent experience would be helpful; central office/assistant experience Classroom teaching understands teaching roles/responsibilities understands special education and laws Personalized education Achievement Record: Good relationships with teachers and staff Consistent in terms of modeling actions Trust in others; reciprocal trust; understanding and respect Positive school and district culture Good communicator open Advocate for students and staff; balanced perspective, fair to all Visible in the schools; participate in activities in schools and community Education Background: Ed.D/Ph.D would be expected in this community; academic degree Personal qualities for an individual are important Expertise: Special education 28
Professional development Work with people who possess expertise; facilitate and coordinate their work Faculty relations building rapport Budget development - build community understanding and support of goals Curriculum and instruction manage and support initiatives Personal Characteristics: Good communicator Well-developed people skills; approachable Collaborative Innovative; creative Flexible Thoughtful decision maker takes action follows through Important Issues: Ability to analyze district organization future space use enrollments dynamics of change multiple stakeholders with varying perspectives; long-term planning Declining enrollment handle issues with sensitivity good communication How resources are deployed Turnover of administrators Recruitment and retention of quality staff Commitment of leadership for the long-term; analyze reasons for turnover; succession planning Final Thoughts: None 29
Parents and Community N = 9 Professional Experience: Classroom teaching experience understanding the work of teachers to support teachers Supervisory experience know what it is to be a boss Politically astute central office experience in a high demand district Business acumen Knows curriculum; cutting edge Knows facilities and facility planning plan for future school use Achievement Record: Innovative; creative this is highly valued A culture of excellence for all schools and the district More open and less bureaucratic culture Positive and healthy learning environment Benchmarks of quality; alternatives to testing metrics; other indicators of success Collaborative leadership Ability to recruit and retain high quality personnel; hire people committed to the district; succession planning Education Background: Nice to have the doctoral degree but not necessary; personal qualities more important Expertise: 30
Appreciates the importance of the arts ability to retain and even expand opportunities for students balance curriculum demands, incorporate more into the wise and effective use integrated ways to learn Open to surrounding oneself with expertise in the above to maximize impact; collaborative Budget development, management, and skill communicating the budget Look at the district objectively and continually assess current program status to determine priorities for improvement; keep things that are working be willing to change others Examine the organizational structure and align for efficiency Curriculum innovation examine curriculum effectiveness Faculty relations and development Commitment to enrichment Personal Characteristics: Approachable, friendly demeanor Empathetic Everyone should know the superintendent Strength of convictions courage to express views not afraid to take a stand advocate for the students, schools, and district Communications persuasive transparent/clarity. Important Issues: Evaluating and auditing; positions, programs, curriculum delivery Declining enrollment; management of associated issues, budget, resources, etc. Professional development Safety and security; social-emotional development of students Final Thoughts: None 31
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