Foreword Preface Acknowledgements About the Authors 1. Becoming a Superintendent Getting Ready The Application Process Interviews Site Visits The Final Step: Your Contract Summary 2. Transitioning to Your New District Managing Your Transition Addressing Personal Issues Summary 3. Getting Started: Organizing to Lead Scheduling for Success Other Responsibilities Summary 4. Moving the District Forward Decision Making Mastering the Budget Improving Teaching and Learning Goal Setting and Evaluation Summary 5. Completing Year One, Planning Year Two: A Continuous Cycle Determining Your Legacy Goals Planning the Final Six Months of the School Year Summary 6. Working With a School Board The Basics Communicating With the Board Board Meetings Summary 7. Working With Employee Groups Establish Relationships An Overview of Collective Bargaining Issues Influencing Collective Bargaining Summary 8. Negotiating Agreements Getting Started Organizing Negotiations At the Table Settling Compensation Ratification and Next Steps Summary 9. Communicating: Enhanced Decisions Communicating With Parents and the Public Working With the Media Communicating With Staff and Students Final Considerations Summary 10. Looking Ahead The Challenges Summary Final Thoughts Resources Index
"Callan and Levinson illustrate the complexities of superintendent's job and provide concrete strategies to proactively address them-a nice overview to start with and reference to use over time." -Peter Dillon, Superintendent Berkshire Hills Regional School District, Stockbridge, MA "This book provides valuable information for aspiring and new superintendents. I wish this resource had been available when I was considering the superintendency." -Marie Blum, Superintendent Canaseraga Central School District, NY An expert guide to becoming a successful superintendent Veteran superintendents Mary Frances Callan and William Levinson provide engaging examples and practical advice based on years of experience in this comprehensive how-to guide for aspiring and new superintendents. They believe that understanding all aspects of the superintendency is critical to developing expertise and that those who master a wide array of leadership and organizational skills significantly increase their chances for success. Offering both the benefits of their knowledge and a vision for the future, the authors cover a full range of topics, including: Keys to providing exceptional instructional leadership Strategic planning, goal setting, and decision making Budgeting, negotiations and collective bargaining Effective communication with staff, the board, unions, and the media This unique reference focuses on the interconnections between leadership, organization, and action and provides tools for assessing the most appropriate response to any on-the-job situation.
Mary Frances Callan recently retired after serving the last fourteen years of her career as superintendent of schools in Milpitas, Pleasanton and Palo Alto, California. She now coaches aspiring and new superintendents, assists with superintendent searches, and is co-developing a curriculum to train aspiring and new superintendents. Earlier in her career she was a teacher, counselor, and administrator in a number of states as well as overseas. Callan also serves on boards including the school board of ICA Cristo Rey, the Board of Regents of Santa Clara University, and the Keenan Health Advisory Board. Among other writings, she has co-authored publications including two handbooks for Phi Delta Kappa's Exemplary Practices Series, Staff Development and Organization Development, and a book published by McGraw Hill, Containing the Health Care Cost Spiral. William Levinson recently retired after serving twelve years as the superintendent of the Tamalpais Union High School District located in Marin County, California. Since retiring Levinson works with a national search firm and has conducted numerous superintendent searches. He provides coaching support to principals, aspiring and new superintendents, and nonprofit executive directors. He previously served eleven years as superintendent in three other California districts: Reed Union, Sonoma Valley and Lafayette. His earlier career included elementary teaching and principal positions in New York, New Jersey, and California. Levinson served as a Vista Volunteer in Florida where he founded an after-school language development program for migrant laborer children using college students as tutors. Throughout his long career Bill has presented workshops assisting teachers and administrators to further their careers.