A Study on the School Board Member and Superintendent Relationship and Its Perceived Impact on a School District

A Study on the School Board Member and Superintendent Relationship and Its Perceived Impact on a School District
Author: Hani Joseph Youssef
Publisher:
Total Pages: 111
Release: 2017
Genre:
ISBN:

The purpose of this study was to gain information and knowledge regarding the perceived impact the relationship between the superintendent and school board members had on a school district. This study also explored which characteristics school board members and superintendents believe are essential to effective school board member and superintendent relationships. This quantitative study utilized survey research methods. Participants answered four demographic questions and 35 primary questions that addressed components of the research questions that frame this study. Questionnaire items were answered on a Likert-type scale that indicated the participants' level of satisfaction (items 1-25) with the school board member and superintendent relationship and level of importance (items 26-35) related to essential characteristics of effective school board member and superintendent relationships. Survey methodology was appropriate for this particular study because the aim of the study was to investigate the perceived relationship between two defined stakeholder groups, school board members and superintendents, and those groups' perceptions of how that relationship impacts educational accountability, the instructional program, leadership roles, board-superintendent conflicts, teamwork, and school-community relations. Participants were selected from the state of California database system that includes contact information for school board members and superintendents within the state. The researcher had access to participants because he secured the support from the California School Board Association (CSBA) Board of Directors. The CSBA Board of Directors allowed the researcher to use their comprehensive e-mail database to contact superintendents and school board members within the state of California. In order to keep the random sample sizes as large as possible, invitations to participate were sent to 250 superintendents and 350 school board members in the CSBA database system

Working Toward Success

Working Toward Success
Author: Amy E. Van Deuren
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 159
Release: 2016-02-10
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1475815549

The importance of positive board/superintendent relationships cannot be understated. The need to balance competing political pressures to create the best possible learning opportunities for students is ever present. Most importantly, board/superintendent relationships should be cultivated with openness and transparency among each other and the public. This book is a resource for both board members and superintendents, and explores issues related to the board/superintendent relationship and superintendent hiring practices. The book includes contributions from experienced and new superintendents and board members on a wide range of topics that boards and superintendents must navigate together successfully in order to move districts in a positive direction for students, staff, parents, and communities. This book is unique in that the intended audience is both boards and superintendents. It is not a resource wherein “experts” tell board members how they should conduct board business, nor a resource that informs superintendents how to “manage” school boards. Instead, the book promotes and encourages a productive working relationship and partnership that moves school districts forward in a positive manner.

District Leadership That Works

District Leadership That Works
Author: Robert J. Marzano
Publisher: Solution Tree Press
Total Pages: 297
Release: 2009-11-01
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1935542362

Bridge the great divide between distanced administrative duties and daily classroom impact. This book introduces a top-down power mechanism called defined autonomy, a concept that focuses on district-defined, nonnegotiable, common goals and a system of accountability supported by assessment tools. Defined autonomy creates an effective balance of centralized direction and individualized empowerment that allows building-level staff the stylistic freedom to respond quickly and effectively to student failure.

Effective Superintendent-School Board Practices

Effective Superintendent-School Board Practices
Author: Rene S. Townsend
Publisher: Corwin Press
Total Pages: 153
Release: 2006-09-14
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1483360067

"The authors fill a gap in the literature by providing a practical, experience-based look at how superintendents should approach the most important relationship in their professional lives. Working effectively with school boards is what it is all about, and this book shows you how." -Paul D. Houston, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators "This book provides practical insights and useful ideas to help district leaders who are serious about keeping the educational interest of children first among their priorities." -Pedro A. Noguera, Professor, New York University "Clearly lays out the important role the superintendent has in leading the district in partnership with the board of education. This book is well worth the time of every current and aspiring superintendent and school board member!" -Anne Bryant, Executive Director, National School Boards Association "This book is a useful tool in building district governance teams. The authors′ collective wisdom provides valuable insight for superintendents and school board members." -Luan B. Rivera, President, California State Boards Association "A wonderful, clear, and jargon-free primer on how to be a successful superintendent. This book is must reading for superintendents and a real plus for school boards." -Dede Alpert, Former California State Senator, Former Member, California State Assembly "An outstanding fieldbook for those interested in down-to-earth strategies for navigating the complexities of providing leadership in school districts." -General Davie, Jr., Retired Superintendent of Schools Foster a strong superintendent-school board relationship centered on quality teaching and learning! Effective Superintendent-School Board Practices helps current and future superintendents and school board members develop an effective governance team that prioritizes quality teaching and learning. Designed for practicing and aspiring superintendents and school board members, this exceptional book relates the everyday experiences and challenges faced by this important district team. Combining 84 years of service as superintendents in urban, rural, and suburban school districts, the authors offer: Real-life vignettes that highlight problems, successes, key points, and useful practices Indispensable information on building relationships, creating a team, managing conflict, and staying focused on the mission and priorities of the district Reflective practice questions and self-assessments throughout This rich resource offers knowledge, skills, and strategies to teach and inspire current and future leaders, based on the experiences of practitioners who have learned what works and what doesn′t, leaving valuable time to focus on student achievement.

School Leadership that Works

School Leadership that Works
Author: Robert J. Marzano
Publisher: ASCD
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2005
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1416602275

Describes a variety of leaders hip responsibilities that have an effect on student achievement.

Superintendent Leadership Orientations and Its Relationship to School Board Satisfaction

Superintendent Leadership Orientations and Its Relationship to School Board Satisfaction
Author: Warren Leroy Moss
Publisher:
Total Pages: 310
Release: 2002
Genre: Educational leadership
ISBN:

Purpose. Using previous research (Deal & Peterson; 1994; Smith, 1996) as a conceptual framework, this study examined the leadership orientations of district superintendents in a mid-western state. The investigation explored two types of leadership orientations: technical and symbolic leadership. District superintendents as well as their board-president were asked to assess the leadership orientation of the district superintendent. Also, this study analyzed the relationship of the superintendents' leadership orientation with their annual evaluation. Superintendents' evaluations were utilized to explore whether or not the leadership orientation of the superintendent influenced the level of a school board's satisfaction as expressed by the annual evaluation. Leadership orientations were analyzed in relationship to various personal, professional, and district demographic variables in order to provide an understanding of how different leadership orientations were perceived by the school board presidents in particular demographic areas. This study will provide a better understanding of the two types of leadership orientations discussed and how these orientations have an influence on the perceptions of board presidents. Procedures. Two hundred and sixty-two public school superintendents were selected to participate in the study. Three survey instruments were used to analyze leadership orientation and the district superintendent's personal, professional, and district demographics. Quantitative research methods were used to provide information on superintendent and school board president's perceptions of the superintendent's leadership orientation. The superintendent's annual formal evaluation was explored with the perceived leadership orientation. Findings. The findings of this study revealed that superintendents perceived themselves as being symbolic in their leadership, whereas school board presidents' perceptions indicated the superintendents were more technical in their leadership orientation. Yet, school board presidents expressed more satisfaction with the symbolic leadership orientation than technical orientation they perceived their superintendents to have exhibited. Therefore, the findings of this study suggested that school board presidents revealed a preference in symbolic leadership orientation in their superintendents' performance to influence and create satisfaction.

Improving School Board Effectiveness

Improving School Board Effectiveness
Author: Thomas L. Alsbury
Publisher: Harvard Education Press
Total Pages: 305
Release: 2017-11-14
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1612508782

Improving School Board Effectiveness offers a clarifying and essential look at the evolving role of school boards and how they contribute to efforts to improve student learning. It examines how board members can establish effective district priorities, and it explores those board policies and actions that result in shared, districtwide commitments to heightened student achievement. This book arises out of a critical need for a better understanding of school boards and the development of helpful tools and guidelines for school board members. At its heart is the notion of Balanced Governance, a principle that most generally “balances the authority of a superintendent to lead a school district with the necessary oversight of a locally engaged and knowledgeable board.” Improving School Board Effectiveness is a helpful and practical book that will prove indispensable for school board members, school and district administrators, and everyone with a stake in school improvement and reform.

An Analysis of the Relationship of District Performance Outcomes and the Consistency, Correspondence, and Congruence of School Board Training

An Analysis of the Relationship of District Performance Outcomes and the Consistency, Correspondence, and Congruence of School Board Training
Author: Sherry Jan Kay Hungate
Publisher:
Total Pages: 342
Release: 2008
Genre: School board members
ISBN:

The purpose of this study was to determine if the degree to which the amount of school board training attended is related to board members' perceptions of the importance of selected training topics (consistency), the degree to which the amount of board training attended is related to the perception of superintendents of the importance of selected training topics (correspondence), and the degree to which the superintendents' perceptions of the importance of selected training topics (congruency) were associated with school district performance outcomes represented by Valence Index of Performance (VIP) scores which were derived from factors related to district performance. The study also sought to determine if a combination of board training constructs; consistency, correspondence, and congruence, were related to district performance outcomes. Superintendents and school board members from 972 Texas public school districts which offered grades K through 12 were invited to participate. Superintendents and school board members with at least two year's tenure in their current school district (N=117) were included in the study if the superintendent and at least two board members responded to the survey. No relationships were found to indicate that any of the board training constructs; consistency, correspondence, or congruence, impact district performance outcomes, nor did a linear combination of consistency, correspondence, and congruence impact district performance outcomes. Recommendations for further study include analysis of the relationship of board training consistency, correspondence, and congruence to governance practices, board effectiveness, board performance of duties, board-superintendent relationships, board meeting effectiveness, effective district budgeting and procurement, board ethics practices, and factors that cause state takeovers of school districts for inefficiency or wrong doing.

Building a High-Impact Board-Superintendent Partnership

Building a High-Impact Board-Superintendent Partnership
Author: Doug Eadie
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 147
Release: 2019-08-21
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1475847912

Building a High-Impact Board-Superintendent Partnership will consist of 11 brief chapters, each covering a critical question that practitioners need to answer in building the board-superintendent partnership