A survey of 754 Illinois superintendents found that regardless of district size, a superintendent's personal actions and those of his/her family may be reflected in future professional evaluations. Fully two-thirds of superintendents believed their spouses and children suffered negative consequences from residing within the school district. (MLH)

A growing number of small consulting firms--many composed of retired superintendents and university professors--have entered the marketplace to help school boards find new district leadership. Also, 39 state school boards associations now operate search businesses. This article profiles 23 independent firms that handle superintendent searches,…

Discusses school reform difficulties, profiling a suburban New York superintendent's struggle to forge an institutional mission via stakeholder surveys and strategic planning. Contrasts Seymour Sarason's pessimistic views about reform with Michael Fullan's school-renewal approach. Describes a Pennsylvania superintendent's successful employment of…

"Altering the normal flow" is the statement in Larry Lezotte's article (in same issue) that best describes changes in Illinois school district. Although district was well run when new superintendent took over, its internal change process geared toward learning for all proved more challenging than cooperating to pass a tax referendum.…

Eight superintendents who are regular Internet cruisers write about their experiences. Most are not computer junkies but favor certain features, especially e-mail, to enhance communication with school community members and help accomplish district objectives. Listserv discussion groups keep these administrators apprised of educational trends (like…

All new superintendents are in jeopardy, but their greatest vulnerability is ignorance of district history. Superintendents should trust no one for several months and be especially wary of disgruntled board members, sore losers, gossips, and sieves. New superintendents can build trust by being trustworthy, immediately firing or reassigning…

After managing the nation's largest school system for two years, Chancellor Ray Cortines will be leaving New York City Public Schools on October 15th. Cortines insists his resignation was not spurred by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's efforts to overhaul the schools, despite skirmishes over budgets, bureaucracy, and staff. Having trimmed the budget,…

Examines control mechanisms that superintendents used to shape and direct suburban high school principals' work. Includes four hierarchical controls (supervision, input, behavior, and output) and two nonhierarchical controls (section/socialization and environmental), along with school social status and district size. The control mechanisms were…

Provides suggestions and ideas to ensure positive first impressions for superintendents in new districts. Helps beginning superintendents build a plan for dealing with the media, parents, community leaders, staff, and the board. Provides advice on developing district objectives and creating a pleasing office environment. (MLH)

Surveys 1,000 Washington principals and superintendents to ascertain the nature and extent of their occupational stress and burnout and the association with sex role orientation. Superintendents perceive less task-based and conflict-mediating stress than do principals, but report more externally caused stress. Task-based stress is the best…

Evaluation of the on-the-job performance of school district superintendents as they implement school board policy is explored, drawing on the results of a federally supported project on improvement of administrator performance evaluation that is part of the work of the Center for Research on Educational Accountability and Teacher Evaluation. (SLD)

Although South Bronx Superintendent Felton "Buddy" Johnson has cut student failure rates, budgets, and teachers' resistance to change, his school board has terminated his contract. Known as an activist administrator who refused to cut deals with a historically corrupt school board, Johnson has substantially retrained teachers and…

Compared to the problem-centered world of the superintendency, the professoriate is characterized by a less-hectic environment of reflection, teaching, discourse, writing, and research. Professors have fewer support services, but work in a more collegial environment where committees make many decisions. Sidebars advise about faculty evaluation and…

A 15-item questionnaire was administered to 36 rural Nebraska superintendents concerning special education. Financing of special education programs ranked as the number one concern of superintendents. Other high ranking concerns were meeting state guidelines, increasing enrollment, shortages of support service personnel, and matching the…

Dade County (Florida) Public School Superintendent Octavio Visiedo demonstrated his four-star leadership capabilities in the wake of Hurricane Andrew's devastation. For weeks, Visiedo tirelessly directed military personnel and school workers in massive clean-up and repair efforts. When all but 10 of the district's 287 schools opened in…