Escalating conflicts over issues involving sexual orientation in public schools often pit conservative Christians against proponents of gay rights--with school leaders caught in the crossfire. Some beleaguered school administrators attempt to put a lid on the controversy by censoring student expression on one side or the other. But that tactic…

Over the span of their careers, the authors have served in numerous capacities, from school board member to superintendent, from teacher to principal, from professor to state commissioner of education. Along the way, they have participated in a multitude of commissions, panels and committees, all concerned with reforming and improving schools at…

It was in March 2010, just months after the author's retirement as a superintendent, when she received a phone call from state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock asking if she would be interested in working for him as an education policy staffer in the upcoming 82nd Texas legislative session. Aycock was set to serve a second term on the House's education…

Bullying is not simply the same act of misbehavior taking place electronically. While the two phenomena share common characteristics (use of power, harmful intent), distinct and important differences exist. The first is the concept of power. Power in cyberspace is not measured by physical size or family income. Instead, power lies in the anonymity…

A story about superintendents hired to manage two districts finds they exercise good organizational skills--and a lot of hustle--to succeed in this unique role. They don't discount the downsides and do question the money savings involved. Superintendents doing double duty is nothing new, particularly among the hundreds of small districts scattered…

Business and industry leaders do not flinch at the idea of placing top talent in struggling departments and divisions. This is not always the case in public education. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools made a bold statement to its community in its strategic plan by identifying two key reform levers--(1) an effective principal leading each school;…

A conversation has emerged in education circles over how much latitude or autonomy principals should have. So how much autonomy should superintendents give principals, and how much is too much? The authors report on some relevant findings in research by McREL, a federal research lab, that may answer this question. McREL's meta-analysis of research…

As a former school law attorney and a former superintendent, the authors were constantly concerned about potential liability when a student's constitutional rights may have been violated or when a student was physically injured. While educators can be held liable for infringing on students' rights and for negligence that causes students physical…

The Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) works with administrators and teachers to build their skills in research-based ELL strategies that can be implemented in general education settings. This article discusses the five key elements that guide the work of the academies. These are: (1) Assemble a strong leadership team; (2)…

The author, who is a superintendent of the Iredell-Statesville Schools in Statesville, North Carolina, discusses how his school district has obtained a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Along the journey to the Baldrige Award, the author shares his experiences and many turning points he and his cabinet members encountered. The author…

As superintendents, most of them have experienced meetings in which they were able to hear the angry crowd, listen deeply to it, and bring people together. In this article, the author shares how she copes with difficult meetings. Through the years, the author has learned that it takes hard work, the kind of ongoing lifetime work that involves…

The evidence is clear: America's boys are being left behind by current practices in the classroom. Statistically, they are performing less well than they were 10 years ago. Boys are dropping out of high schools in significant numbers, failing to complete college degrees and behaving more violently. Thus, the author presents some possible solutions…

The superintendency has a reputation as a thankless occupation, one so difficult search firms sometimes have a hard time drumming up applicants for challenging school districts. It is not hard to see why many educators say they would never aspire to the top post: more intense news media scrutiny, harsh and incessant community bloggers,…

Central Falls is, by far, the poorest community in Rhode Island. More than 40 percent of the children under 18 live in poverty, and 40 percent of that group live in severe poverty. At Central Falls High School, low-income Latino students have fallen behind their white counterparts, with shockingly low graduation, poor literacy, and low…

School leaders are reporting an uptick in anger in their communities these days--often diffuse, unfocused anger--among staff members, parents and neighbors. In the face of threat, the first impulse of education leaders is to toughen up, tighten down and begin broadcasting their messages. Since anxiety and rage come with uncertain times, the…