The Contemporary Superintendent; Preparation, Practice, and Development

by Lars G. Bjork

• ISBN13: 9781412913263
• ISBN10: 1412913268
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-07-14
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

The role, practice, and preparation of today and tomorrow's superintendent! A strong superintendent is critical to the success of an entire school district. So why is it one of the most deregulated positions? Over the past several decades, many states have either rescinded licensing requirements for school district superintendents or abandoned regulations altogether. The Contemporary Superintendent offers a scholarly and objective analysis of the issues surrounding the state policies that appoint superintendents. Lars G. Bj ö rk and Theodore Kowalski have developed a coherent guide to critical professional aspects such as superintendent licensures, professional preparation, and staff development. Featuring the research of educational leadership specialists, this resource is not to be missed! The Contemporary Superintendent includes: Quality strategies by the field's top scholars to implement decisive practices for superintendents Detailed analysis of the concerns over superintendent qualifications and preparations An examination of past, present, and future practices of superintendents A distinct look at the evolution of the role of the superintendent Developed over a three-year period, the authors have compiled a collection of useful, hands-on strategies for aspiring and existing superintendents, as well as ideas for adoption in the educational administration, leadership professional development, and educational policy areas.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
About the Editors	ix
About the Contributors	xi
Evolution of the School District Superintendent Position	1	(18)
Theodore J. Kowalski
Characteristics of American School Superintendents	19	(26)
Lars G. Bjork
Thomas E. Glass
C. Cryss Brunner
National Education Reform Reports: Implications for Professional Preparation and Development	45	(26)
Lars G. Bjork
Theodore J. Kowalski
Michelle D. Young
Learning Theory and Research: A Framework for Changing Superintendent Preparation and Development	71	(36)
Lars G. Bjork
Theodore J. Kowalski
Tricia Browne-Ferrigno
The Superintendent as Instructional Leader: Current Practice, Future Conceptualizations, and Implications for Preparation	107	(30)
George J. Petersen
Bruce G. Barnett
Superintendent as Organizational Manager	137	(26)
Tricia Browne-Ferrigno
Thomas E. Glass
Superintendent as Educational Statesman and Political Strategist	163	(24)
Lars G. Bjork
D. Keith Gurley
Reconceptualizing the Superintendency: Superintendents as Applied Social Scientists and Social Activists	187	(20)
Bonnie C. Fusarelli
Lance D. Fusarelli
Preparing Superintendents to Be Effective Communicators	207	(20)
Theodore J. Kowalski
John L. Keedy
Women Superintendents and Role Conception: (Un)Troubling the Norms	227	(24)
Margaret Grogan
C. Cryss Brunner
Superintendents of Color: Perspectives on Racial and Ethnic Diversity and Implications for Professional Preparation and Practice	251	(32)
Juanita Cleaver Simmons
Index	283