Over the last eight years, the University of Virginia Partnership for Leaders in Education (UVA/PLE) has partnered with over 50 districts and state education agencies across the country to embark on high-level change at the state, district, and school levels through the use of leader competencies. This guide calls upon practice-based experience,…

This report presents the findings from a rigorous national survey of charter school authorizers conducted in 2011 by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA). This is the fourth time NACSA has conducted this type of national survey. As in years past, the vast majority of authorizers (90 percent) are school districts and they…

The selection of a superintendent is among the most significant decisions any school district board of directors will make. The superintendent should be the person and office through which the direction set by the board is carried out. The working relationship that develops between the board and superintendent is thus absolutely critical and the…

To enhance their district's chances of hiring superior principals, Nanuet (New York) Public Schools developed an intensive administrator selection process involving careful job descriptions reflecting school objectives, checklists of desirable professional experiences, an "action interview," and structured visits to finalists' school…

School boards are responsible for assessing candidates for the superintendency and should approach this task the same way a business does. For all candidates: interview several times, examine their history, check their credentials, and arrange for a psychological assessment. (MLF)

Describes the use of an assessment center in evaluating candidates during a search for a new superintendent. Includes a brief article that points out the problems in using assessment centers for hiring evaluations. (MD)

Site visits for prospective principals raise serious problems. Members of school-based selection panel receive minimal training and can disrupt atmosphere of candidate's school. Confidentiality in job search wanes. A better way to hire building administrators is to employ consultants to help with search. After settling on one or more candidates,…

Ways that presidential search committees of colleges can avoid common errors are discussed. The following suggestions are offered: (1) begin with institutional self-assessment; (2) carefully select search committee members; (3) avoid the appearance of wired jobs; (4) provide enough published information to candidates; (5) provide strong logistical…

Across the nation, about 16,000 school boards are responsible for selecting their chief school administrators, including the superintendent. To aid school boards with their selection process, this paper provides some helpful hints. First, boards need to establish goals, philosophy, and school district needs and determine all possible alternatives…

A California school district, expecting 600 new students and only filling less than half of their 70 open teaching positions from usual hiring sources, took their teacher recruitment program on the road and around the country. Top flight teachers were hired at precisely the grade levels and subject areas needed. (MLF)

Outlines the steps to be taken by a public library board of trustees in recruiting and hiring a director. Activities discussed include planning a search strategy, writing the position description, advertising and soliciting applications, employer conduct, selecting finalists, interviewing, and following through on the final decision. (10…

School boards should recognize that school administrators steer away from boards that (1) are consistently divided, (2) do not respect confidentiality, (3) are close-minded, and (4) do not adhere to the line between setting school policy and administering policy. (MLF)

A practical guide to the process of selecting and appointing new college presidents is presented, based on a literature reivew, questionnaire responses, and institutional case studies. The following nine steps in the process are examined: (1) establishing the machinery of search and selection; (2) organizing the committee; (3) formulating the…

Outlines the steps boards should follow in doing a search for hiring a new superintendent. (MD)

This guide is designed to help administrators, search committee members, pastors, and school board members select a school development director. Chapter 1 describes why the hiring process is important. Chapter 2 answers questions such as who is responsible for development. Two styles of development management are described. Prerequisites for…