Responding to recent British legislation recasting school governors' role, many local education agencies have implemented elaborate training and support systems for governors. This article discusses training and evaluation criteria issues in a Hampshire training program. Governors want more participation in training and more group- and issue-based…

School districts across New York State have implemented numerous innovative cost-saving measures in the 1990s, according to February 1993 New York State School Boards Association survey of 722 school superintendents. Districts achieved substantial savings in financial management, plant management, personnel management, and school support services…

Until recently, school executives have been too busy responding to growing school violence to worry about their own safety. Although teachers and students are most common targets, recent murders of three superintendents and an assistant principal show top administrators are vulnerable to misdirected anger and frustration. Administrators should not…

Superintendents across the country are feeling more isolated and vulnerable than ever before. To overcome feelings of isolation, some throw themselves into community activities; others join professional organizations or network with colleagues in neighboring districts. Lonely superintendents should also reach out to people, take care of…

To remain viable, classrooms must be transformed into learning communities wherein deep ideas are developed. A Pennsylvania superintendent (Owen J. Roberts School District, Pottstown, PA) describes how discussions of great literature among administrators, faculty, and board members have helped forge shared understandings as they tackled thorny…

Examined Callahan's vulnerability thesis to determine its ability to explain the mobility of superintendents in Texas between 1985 and 1990. Questionnaire and interview data indicated that, at least in Texas where superintendent mobility reached 50% in that time period, vulnerability did not appear to account for much of superintendent mobility.…

With patience and savvy, superintendents can recover from the sting of dismissal. Incumbents should be alert to warning signs, such as decreasing board-superintendent communications and board rejection of superintendent recommendations. Sidebars offer tips on fighting back with good cause, obtaining legal support, and surviving the endgame. (MLH)

Crash courses, late-night reading, trusted advisors, and conversations with constituents are re-educating a new breed of superintendent after their years in the military, business, or law professions. Some nontraditional superintendents recruit outside talent for their chief education officers. Many are irritated by rules, but surprised at school…

By controlling their time, superintendents can attend to their personal well-being and work priorities. Administrators should create a pleasure list, determine priorities, communicate politely yet firmly, learn to say no, discourage interferences, exercise regularly, ensure board compliance, budget quiet time, recognize limits to efficiency, and…

Abandoning its disjointed strategic plan, the Phoenix (Arizona) Union High School District concentrated on improving student achievement and utilization of fiscal and human resources. These goals were achieved by replacing adversarial collective bargaining with interest-based negotiation and working toward higher graduation rates and lower dropout…

The superintendent of a highly politicized district in British Columbia discusses the micropolitics of top-down reform mandates imposed on his district. He describes ways that resourceful school leaders mediate provincial expectations while working simultaneously and interdependently to create collaborative professional cultures and rich learning…

Results of a survey examining Missouri superintendents' perceptions of successful beginning principals, based on ratings on six Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium standards, were compared with another study rating unsuccessful Indiana principals by the same standards. School culture, instructional program, and management are essential…

Summarizes a study that surveyed school board presidents and school superintendents about their perceptions of school reform. Reports their views on desirable restructuring outcomes, important restructuring ingredients, factors influencing restructuring, and the political emphases associated with restructuring. Although school officials generally…

Superintendents must invest time and energy in the political process. They should assist state and local professional associations by calling, visiting, or writing legislators. Superintendents should also establish a governmental relations unit, establish policies and procedures, use effective lobbying techniques, adopt legislative positions,…

Uses five entries from the journal of a female African American teacher to explore issues that are found in the theoretical literature and in the everyday work lives of black women. Focuses on the systems of domination that interfere with the capacity to exercise self-determination. (SLD)