Reports results of a survey in which 100% of superintendents who responded read high school publications yet only 15% think it is important to attend national workshops, conferences, or conventions. Contends that student journalists and advisers need to continue to travel to these workshops. Suggests that if students and advisers presented reports…

Superintendent offers several practical suggestions for dealing more effectively with negative school personnel and situations: Visualize success, know the realities, appreciate humor, surround negative people with positive staff members, be an absolute role model, understand psychology, reframe negative into positive energy, and use your…

Offers three questions that administrators should ask themselves before adopting an administrative rule aimed at reducing the detrimental effect of negative employees: What is the purpose? Will this actually accomplish the purpose? How will our most positive and productive staff members feel about it? Describes two scenarios wherein the three…

Personal account of her first-year experience as superintendent of Washington County Public Schools in Hagerstown, Maryland. (PKP)

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'…