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.

An Analysis of the Relationship of Superintendent Leadership Orientation Style and District Performance Outcomes

An Analysis of the Relationship of Superintendent Leadership Orientation Style and District Performance Outcomes
Author: Edna Yvonne Davis Kennedy
Publisher:
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2015
Genre: Academic achievement
ISBN:

The purpose of the present study was to determine if a relationship existed between the perceived Leadership Orientation Styles (LOS) of Texas Public School Superintendents and district performance outcomes. Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal's Leadership Orientation Survey (1990), which defines action and behaviors into the four frames described below, was used to determine and form a contemporary profile of superintendent leadership styles. Superintendents in Texas (N=1037) were sent electronic surveys to assess perceived leadership styles of orientation. Data was collected and analyzed using the self-reporting Leadership Orientation Style Survey developed by Bolman and Deal (1990). Preliminary steps in the study included identification of a systematic approach to define and measure district performance outcomes as indicated on the Texas Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS). In order to identify district performance outcomes and quantify data as factor scores, variables from the Texas AEIS database were subjected to factor analysis. The analysis of the relationship between superintendent leadership orientation styles and district performance outcomes was reported by using canonical correlation and multiple regression interpretations. The model for Bolman and Deal's Leadership Orientation Survey (1990) views leadership from four differing frames of organizational thought: structural, human resource, political, and symbolic. Bolman and Deal (1990) describe these perspectives as a lens, or window, which frame tools of action and behavior. District performance outcomes included academic, advanced academic, and teacher characteristics to form a Valence Index of Performance (VIP) score. As educational systems and public schools become increasingly complex and reach levels of crisis proportion, superintendent must use sophisticated and creative leadership to approach today's epic demand must deal with the orientational school structure from a leadership vantage point of flexibility and multi-dimensional thought processes. Therefore, a study that reveals the style of superintendent leadership orientations can assist leaders to comprehend and address issues that arise in a school district. In conclusion, while the preset research study did not contribute to the superintendent leadership orientation style relationship to district performance outcomes many questions are still left unanswered. The demand for substantive research linking student achievement to superintendent leadership practices remains unchanged.

Board Member Orientation

Board Member Orientation
Author: Holly Kleinsasser
Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Learning
Total Pages: 168
Release: 1995
Genre: School board-superintendent relationships
ISBN: 9780834204515

This reference is designed to help school superintendents and other ad ministrators provide effective, in-house orientation to rookie board m embers. It walks through the basic responsibilities of board members, and provides a structure through which specific issues and characteris tics about each school district, community and board can be discussed. This publication boasts a wide range of forms and worksheets to assis t the busy administrator in setting up a customized program in his or her school district.

The Politics of Leadership

The Politics of Leadership
Author: George J. Petersen
Publisher: IAP
Total Pages: 216
Release: 2006-07-01
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1607527480

The primary contribution of this book, is not its advocacy of a specific position but rather, its objective analysis of cogent topics. The content prompts us to consider governance in relation to quality education and to ponder alternative policy strategies that have yet to be fully evaluated. As a young doctoral student more than a few years ago, William Van Til, an eminent scholar and a mentor, reminded me almost daily that members of the education profession had a moral responsibility to address the most difficult questions about education and democracy. These enduring queries, he argued, extended to determining how this critical social service should be organized and controlled and to determining the appropriate roles for administrators and teachers. Those in our profession who fail to heed his advice by remaining indifferent to these philosophical dilemmas should consider Plato’s long-standing warning: “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."

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.

The Board-Savvy Superintendent

The Board-Savvy Superintendent
Author: Paul D. Houston
Publisher: R&L Education
Total Pages: 114
Release: 2002-11-23
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1461663474

The Board-Savvy Superintendent's hard-hitting, no-nonsense, advice on school board leadership capitalizes on Houston and Eadie's hands-on experience working with hundreds of boards and superintendents over the past quarter-century. It is a practical, survive-and-thrive book that will help school district leaders—board members, superintendents, and senior administrators—learn to work together successfully in leading their districts in these extraordinarily challenging times. Filled with detailed, thoroughly tested guidance on how to acquire the skills and knowledge that make up board savvyness, it also addresses how to develop the school board's capacity to produce truly high-impact governance, and how to build a strong, enduring, productive board-superintendent working partnership. The authors take a fresh look at the process of governing, going well beyond the old-fashioned, control-focused "policy governance" approach. Rather than being preoccupied with developing a static structure of policies to distinguish the board's role from the superintendent's, the book describes how the board and superintendent can creatively work together in making decisions about such critical governing "products" as values, vision, mission, and strategic change initiatives. School district leaders will appreciate The Board-Savvy Superintendent's close look at the "gold standard" for board involvement in school affairs: leading strategic change. The authors go well beyond the conventional long-range planning approach of merely projecting everything a school district is doing for some arbitrary period of 3 or 5 years, which has generated tons of paper and little important change to provide the reader with detailed, practical guidance on engaging school boards creatively and proactively in a much more selective, vision-driven process that actually results in the implementation of strategic change: the Strategic Change Portfolio.

Building Great School Board -- Superintendent Teams

Building Great School Board -- Superintendent Teams
Author: Bradley V. Balch
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2017-09-22
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9781945349133

To address urgent challenges and drive continuous improvement effectively, school board members, superintendents, and school leaders must develop strong school board/superintendent teams. The authors offer a systematic approach for establishing a unified school leadership team that can efficiently meet demands, avoid conflict, and respond to the ever-changing educational environment. Each chapter includes professional development activities that can be adapted for teams of any size. Learn how to build an effective school leadership team: Consider how the school board/superintendent team can remain sustainable and productive in governance, instructional leadership, and school improvement. Foster committed team relationships and develop effective school leadership practices and qualities within the team. Clarify superintendents' and school board members' roles and responsibilities to improve governance and avoid conflict. Learn characteristics of effective communication and how to speak with one unified voice as a team. Participate in team professional development activities that build trust, respect, transparency, and accountability among the team. Contents: Introduction Chapter 1: Legal Perspectives and the Case for Local Control Chapter 2: Induction and New Team Member Orientation Chapter 3: Team Members' Roles and Responsibilities Chapter 4: Effective Communication and a Unified Voice Chapter 5: Team Decision Making Chapter 6: Committed, Effective Team Leadership Chapter 7: Foundational Statements Chapter 8: Continuous Improvement and Quality Assurance Chapter 9: Governance and Leadership During Change Chapter 10: Dysfunctional Teams and Rogue Members Chapter 11: System Evaluation Essentials Chapter 12: The Future of the School Board-Superintendent Team References and Resources

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.