Personal account of his first-year experience as superintendent of the South Hamilton School District, a small rural district in Jewell, Iowa. (PKP)

Women aspiring to the superintendency are advised to advance their own careers by working as volunteers with talented leaders, getting involved in professional meetings and associations, looking for opportunities in other school districts, and joining a network of women administrators. (MLF)

Joseph A. Spagnolo, Virginia's new state superintendent, has boldly reorganized the state education department in ways unmatched by other states. He has eliminated 99 of the agency's 531 jobs and hopes to transfer the responsibility for adult education and proprietary schools to other agencies. In this interview, Spagnolo discusses his…

In 1989, the York Region (Ontario) Board of Education implemented a new Supervision for Growth plan for all teachers designed to promote collegiality between principals and teachers aspiring to administrative positions. Using a dialog journal helped a principal and the district superintendent learn first hand what they were asking their teachers…

Describes difficulties that superintendents in some geographical areas experience in meeting residence requirements. In all three cases, involving affluent or innercity assignments, school boards made special arrangements to help their new superintendents meet these requirements without suffering economic or emotional hardship. (MLH)

Superintendents have a vested interest in helping principals regain their professional enthusiasm. Some effective strategies include boosting financial support (for workshops, journal subscriptions, or cash prizes for schools), recognizing contributions, providing professional support, and offering new responsibilities and challenges. (MLH)

The key to succeeding in superintendent-board relationships is fitting the school board into a three-part framework of policies, meetings, and goals. Advice is also provided concerning budgeting, becoming acquainted with board members, and handling disagreements. A sidebar classifies board members as builders, shopkeepers, mechanics, cheerleaders,…

According to recent research, women superintendents have less coaching experience than men, head wealthier districts, work longer hours, are more often single and childless, and obtain the position later in life. They also smoke and drink less. Males and females were equally satisfied with their school board relationships, community stature, and…

Describes how 16 superintendents spurred district reform efforts by creating a positive environment through a four-step process: establishing trust, planning the district's future, communicating their vision effectively, and following through. An inset provides advice to other change-oriented superintendents. (MLH)

In this interview, psychiatrist Barry Garfinkel and "Kappan" Senior Fellow Jack Frymier explore appropriate school responses to the growing adolescent suicide problem. The three strongest social correlates of youthful suicidal behavior are family background, youth unemployment, and decreasing religious observance. Superintendents need to control…

A Midwest superintendent describes some painful on-the-job experiences. To regain community acceptance and support, educators must understand and respect community history, apply classroom-inspired lessons to relationships with parents, involve the community meaningfully, recognize the failings of New Age terminology, understand families'…

District of Columbia School Superintendent Franklin L. Smith faces overwhelming challenges, including student shootings, dilapidated facilities, undersupplied classrooms, and low student achievement. Franklin's biggest problem is a city budget crisis stemming from overspending, poor management, and bureaucratic incompetencies. Smith has pared his…

Each of 33 educational administration graduate students at Lehigh University asked a superintendent to estimate division of his/her time and energy among five broad categories: CEO function to the school board, human resource management, instructional leadership, business management, and community relations. Most superintendents would rather spend…

Finds that superintendents regarded the cooperating teacher as the most credible source for providing both written and oral information about first-time teacher applicants, followed by the cooperating principal, previous employers, and teachers in their districts. (SR)

Two superintendents explain how they use educational research. The Jericho (New York) Union Free School District used research to help reopen a school and change a junior high to a middle school. The Orange County (Virginia) Public Schools superintendent feels that certain areas of practice (staff development, grading, grouping, and evaluation)…