To test R. E. Callahan's (1962) theory about superintendents' vulnerability to interest groups, the career of E. C. Hartwell is examined. Hartwell's career in three cities (1914-22) demonstrates the power that a superintendent could acquire and wield. (SLD)

Findings from a survey of rural school administrators in Oregon include profiles of three superintendent-principals that practice democratic leadership. Findings contrast with a national study that painted a discouraging picture of rural schooling in which few superintendents had a vision of working with people in collaborative ways. (LP)

Perceptions and practices of in-service activities for teachers were compared for American public school superintendents from 184 districts and 90 chief educational officers in English schools. Teacher involvement in planning for in-service education was likely to be greater in the United States than in England. (SLD)

The Supreme Court's Missouri v Jenkins decision changed the role of school administrators as well as their ability to set priorities and control implementation. By sanctioning court-ordered taxation, it also involved legislators in the partnership, although the courts are clearly senior partners in the relationship. (SK)

Examines experiences and perspectives of four women who have exited urban school district superintendencies. Sources of disenchantment with the political aspects of the role are discussed. Increased attention to recruitment and retention of women and other underprivileged groups are advocated. (SLD)

This qualitative study examines beliefs and values of leaders in two "turnaround" high schools in high-poverty rural areas, one serving Mexican-American students in Texas, the other serving African-American students in Alabama. Four common beliefs emerged, emphasizing the value of: challenging the myth; demonstrating courage; creating a…

Explores district leaders' roles in implementing a year-round schooling reform. Examines experiences of four Florida districts, stressing social, political, and fiscal contexts. Leaders promote innovation by acting humanely and openly, and by eschewing unfulfillable promises. Creating widespread support, being flexible, and crafting a climate for…

AASA's 2000 survey indicates that women are poorly positioned for superintendencies, lack appropriate credentials, have little fiscal management experience, eschew pursuit of superintendencies for personal reasons, face boards' reluctance to hire them, have higher teaching motivations than formerly, and enter the administrator preparation…

The current state of superintendent evaluation is described as reflected in the research literature, drawing especially on five surveys of school districts, and an effort is made to identify the most important issues in improving evaluation. Specific attention is given to the methods suitable for superintendent evaluation. (SLD)

Institutional norms, practices, and unwritten policies that further mediocrity include transferring nonperforming staff to avoid problems, tolerating inadequate or misleading evaluations, ignoring student-performance data in supervisory interactions, and shielding staff from meeting standards through work assignments. Focus, persistence, and…

As states have pushed to adopt high-stakes assessments, critics say the number of cheating incidents among educators has risen dramatically. Tying improvements to cash bonuses has not helped. Stretching rules to show improvement can become the norm, if superintendents don't promulgate zero-tolerance cheating policies. (MLH)

In a recent survey by Public Agenda, 853 randomly selected public school superintendents and 909 randomly selected public school principals cite politics and bureaucracy as their biggest obstacles. Two thirds or more say they need more autonomy to reward outstanding teachers and remove ineffective teachers. (MLF)

This paper addresses the historic under representation of female superintendents. The primary focus is the legacy of discrimination, in which the barriers to female advancement in a traditionally male field are described. Particular attention is given to three different models of male dominance that have been developed to explain how and/or why…

In the past, boards of education were created to run school districts. But as expectations of educators grew, a cadre of professional administrators developed who were capable of operating school districts quite well. What boards of education bring to the table is the link with local needs of the community in public education. This is far…

In this article, the author discusses the need of administrative support for board members. An effective board services office can help a lot in attracting and retaining community leaders. Board members need administrative support to help them manage events, records, communications, scheduling, correspondence and constituent service. In small to…