Superintendents and key executives from 22 California districts were asked to interpret and evaluate 8 restructuring approaches. Viewpoints expressed offer contrasting assessments shaped by the issue's salience and explicitness, interest in performance improvement versus public confidence development, and concern for accountability versus…

To increase the chances of finding and hiring school personnel--especially teachers--who meet its high standards, an Ohio school district developed a five-step process: recruiting, initial screening, application submission and screening, team interviewing, and decision making. The result--selection of 10 highly qualified teachers whose subsequent…

To determine the organizational and environmental variables that superintendents perceive as critical to an administrative restructuring process, an action research approach was used to gather data through semistructured interviews with selected Western Pennsylvania school superintendents. The most valuable skill for superintendents in effecting…

Based on interviews with almost the entire population of shared superintendents in Iowa, this article discusses the pros and cons of shared superintendencies. Problems arose concerning logistics, decreased administrator visibility, loss of personal control, keeping district policies separate, and favoritism charges. Participants experienced high…

A school administrator who has served as a consultant on many superintendent searches offers 10 selection tips. Board members should refrain from criticizing the former superintendent, advertise for applicants, invest sufficient funds, specify selection criteria, be honest about salary, work diligently during screening and evaluation, honor…

For school executives, annuities have become the preferred retirement vehicle, because other private-sector investments (some deferred compensation and profit-sharing plans) are closed to public employees. This article explains Internal Revenue Code sections 403 (b) and 457 and 1986 Tax Reform Act provisions related to tax-sheltered annuity plans.…

A persistent limitation of school administration research results from the use of myriad unrelated concepts, making research outcomes hard to generalize or synthesize. Reconsideration of superintendent vulnerability and efficiency suggests that these concepts can be replaced with others (such as emulation) to integrate at least some research…

Despite all the horror stories about big-city politics, diminishing resources, and pressure-cooker workloads, urban superintendencies continue to attract a certain breed of men and women. Frequently cited reasons include the challenge, sophistication, complexity, resources, diversity, people, visibility, and compensation associated with the job.…

Considers the moral dimension of educational leadership, based on the lived experiences of 11 women superintendents. Examines interviewees' perceived options in resolving moral dilemmas that defy adherence to policy. Most evident is superintendents' reliance on localized knowledge of particular people, capacity to imagine the other's situation,…

In examining the issue of the vulnerability of school superintendents, the paper suggests that humankind itself is vulnerable and, as such, requires that all individuals present themselves in the social world as vulnerable. Thus, the perception of the school superintendent as vulnerable may be an important aspect of survival in that office, but it…

Despite steep odds, the American Association of School Administrators is renewing its effort to ease the financial sacrifice of border-hopping superintendents. A 1998 legislative initiative, the Retirement Account Portability Act, drew 50 cosponsors. A similar legislative push is expected in 1999. (MLH)

Roughly 15% of U.S. elementary school principals are working under incentive or performance-pay contracts. Douglas County, Colorado's program, including teachers and administrators, has four components: outstanding performance, skills blocks, group incentive, and district responsibility pay. Bonuses can be major motivators. A sidebar details…

Risk-taking is a critical leadership factor neglected in educational literature. A four-year national study explored risk-taking in the narratives of 12 women superintendents. These women had life circumstances (community and challenge) and personal characteristics (courage and curiosity) that helped them relax and take risks. (60 references) (MLH)

Discusses four leadership roles for school superintendents to help teachers respond to increasing and often conflicting demands. These roles are (1) future interpreter and meaning maker to build an educational vision; (2) capacity builder to ensure student success; (3) collaboration builder both within and outside the district; and (4)…

Presents advice on how common sense, research, and good mentoring can be used to improve relationships between school superintendents and school board members. The need for clarity; timely, consistent, mutually-supportive communication; and trust are emphasized. (GR)