Leadership Stability in Relation to Board-superintendent Alignment

Leadership Stability in Relation to Board-superintendent Alignment
Author: Chad A. Krug
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2020
Genre:
ISBN:

Leadership stability matters, especially at the district level, for frequent superintendent turnovers can have disruptive effects on staff morale, student performance, and organizational finance (e.g., Alsbury, 2008; Banicki & Pacha, 2011; Diem, Frankenberg, & Cleary, 2015; Grissom & Andersen, 2012; Grissom & Mitani, 2016). Optimally, the school board and superintendent would work orchestrally to provide quality and equitable education to all children as the core of district governance, while attending to other stakeholders' needs within the district and local communities. Yet, research consistently points to the role confusion associated with the complexities of the superintendent-board arrangement for high turnover in superintendency, due to power structures and issues such as micromanaging involved in such relationships (e.g., Brunner, 1998; Cole & Holland, 2017; Mountford, 2004). This study reported here examined the notion of superintendent-board leadership alignment and its effects on the district leadership stability. Equally important if not more is that this study tested such an underlying structure of (mis)alignment, using a self-designed survey instrument. The population for this study was the public school superintendents of Kansas and their respective board presidents. Participants completed an online survey that contained demographic items and items on leadership preferences across five pillars of effectiveness. The four guiding research questions were: (a) How do superintendents perceive their leadership preferences? (b) How do school board presidents perceive the boards' leadership preferences? (c) To what extent does the level of alignment of superintendent-board leadership preferences impact the tenure of the district superintendent?, and (d) What are the relationships between district size measured by student enrollment and the level of alignment of superintendent-board leadership preferences? Of the 282 possible superintendents, 202 completed the questionnaire; and out of the 286 possible board presidents, 158 completed the questionnaire. There were 133 pairs of superintendents and board presidents; in other words, the pair served in the same school district. The validity and reliability of the survey were measured, using exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach's alphas. Logistic regressions and simple correlation analyses were conducted to examine relationships between alignment and superintendent tenure as well as district size and alignment. The exploratory factor analysis results revealed that there were five factors, that is, five possible underlying tenets for board-superintendent leadership alignment. They were named as "Two-way communication," "Alignment through mission and vision," "Collegiality and collaboration," "Student achievement and quality instruction," and "Procedural." Only Factor 2, "Alignment through mission and vision" was found to be significantly related to superintendent tenure. In terms of district size's effects on leadership alignment, only Factor 3, "Centering on collegiality and collaboration" was found to be have a significant relationship with district size. From this study's findings, recommendations are offered to improve superintendent and board member governance structures as well as the focus on aspects of the shared governance role necessary to increase district stability.

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.

The Challenges of School District Leadership

The Challenges of School District Leadership
Author: Daniel L. Duke
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2010-07-01
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1136989412

Despite the rising interest in school districts, there are relatively few comprehensive resources available for graduate students in educational leadership programs. The Challenges of School District Leadership takes the position that the best way to prepare the next generation of school district leaders is to make certain that they are prepared to address the unending challenges that characterize public education today. Drawing on the latest research as well as actual examples, the book spotlights ten of the perennial challenges facing superintendents and school boards. Among the challenges discussed in detail are balancing equity and excellence, accommodating demographic change, coping with the increasing politicization of district leadership, deciding how to organize (or reorganize) a school system, and meeting the demands of educational accountability. This text is appropriate for graduate students in educational leadership, education policy, and the politics of education as well as school district leaders.

Superintendent Leadership

Superintendent Leadership
Author: Elaine L. Wilmore
Publisher: Corwin Press
Total Pages: 177
Release: 2008-02-13
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1452298319

Written by leadership expert Elaine L. Wilmore, this ideal resource helps aspiring and practicing superintendents attain proficiency in the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) standards.

The Savvy Superintendent

The Savvy Superintendent
Author: Linda K. Wagner
Publisher: R&L Education
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2010-06-16
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1607097222

The Savvy Superintendent examines the art of district leadership from the perspective of top practitioners in the field of education. Insights and comments from in-depth interviews with over fifty current and former successful superintendents_including American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Superintendents of the Year and runners up for the award_are woven throughout the narrative to exemplify best-in-class, real-world applications of the behaviors, attitudes, and attributes that great instructional leaders employ as they carry out their most important work: instructional leadership. This book provides practical, hands-on advice for school district superintendents. It is designed to provide needed but rarely taught ideas, insights, and information that superintendents can use to incorporate effective practices into their own school districts.

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

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."

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.

Leadership Teaming

Leadership Teaming
Author: Cathie E. West
Publisher: Corwin Press
Total Pages: 153
Release: 2008-11-10
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1452212708

A principal and a superintendent present experience- and research-based strategies for developing strong superintendent-principal teams through leadership, communication, and collaboration.