Advises superintendents to increase school visibility by writing a weekly newspaper column that communicates important school information, discusses school issues, recognizes educators' outstanding accomplishments, corrects false impressions or misinformation, and presents the human side of schooling. Several tips are provided for planning,…

In an open letter to educational colleagues, a retired school superintendent with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) asks school administrators to take responsibility for educating students about AIDS and not waste time debating whether schools or parents should be teaching children about the disease. (MD)

Reviews aspects of the role of the local school district superintendency that are puzzling. Looks at: demographic consistency, patterns of professional preparation, the superintendent's impact, and the politics of the superintendency. Calls for additional research into this important administrative position. (MD)

To ease the pain of closing two delapidated high schools, the East Chicago (Indiana) City Schools threw a gala alumni farewell party. To organize a similar event, superintendents should galvanize staff, win the school board's support, publicize the event, involve the community, use incentives to boost attendance, encourage creativity, and keep a…

Concludes from the data that: (1) the majority of superintendents and counselors support foreign language educaton; (2) attitudes toward foreign language study do not vary with school district size; (3) the majority believe that students should be encouraged but not required to study foreign language; and (4) the major justification for foreign…

Although years of research have not identified what guarantees a successful superintendent, the best indicators are skills dealing with others and knowing how to select good personnel. (MLF)

Responses of 60 males and 12 females (from a sample of 100 superintendents) revealed no differences between the sexes in overall job satisfaction. The most important job factors for females were advancement and supervision; whereas males identified responsibility, working conditions, and interpersonal relationships. (MLF)

The study examined attitudes of school superintendents and parents of handicapped children regarding early childhood education. Superintendents expressed generally strong support for a preschool mandate, despite declining revenues. Parents overwhelmingly found present services adequate or better and advocated continued early childhood programs for…

Why shouldn't superintendents be evaluated by principals? Likewise, why shouldn't principals be evaluated by teachers? The fact that these questions seem revolutionary are an indication that education, too, has fallen prey to bureaucracy's great flaw: not allowing superiors to be evaluated by their subordinates. (Editor)

This district created a team of four administrators to replace the district superintendent while a search was conducted for a successor. (IRT)

Proper supervision has been a concern of those responsible for education for many years. The 100-year-old definition used here may help us gain some insights regarding our sophistication and/or needs in the important area of supervision. (Editor/RK)

A host of factors may influence whether or not a school changes. With that in mind, the author cites some examples, looks at recent literature, and offers reflections on some of these factors. (Editor)

Examines the idea of the administrative team as a management and leadership strategy that, while difficult and demanding to put into practice, holds great potential for increasing administrative effectiveness and efficiency and thus influencing positively the learning program for the children served by the school system. (Author)

Reports on a study that used an economic model to analyze the personal investments made by individuals who eventually became superintendents. Also included is descriptive data about the superintendents who participated in the study. (Author)

Presents a few details about Michigan Department of Education research on the conditions that affect a superintendent's job security and eight central findings from that study. (Author/IRT)