The purpose of this qualitative, narrative study was to investigate the role of the superintendent in leading the district to be more culturally proficient, resulting in the narrowing of the achievement gap in culturally diverse small districts. Eight superintendents of small school districts were purposefully selected based on their district size…

The purpose of this study was to assess a statewide cadre of public school principals in terms of their attraction to the job of district superintendent. Two assumptions underlying the investigation were that (1) participant self-reported capability to become a superintendent impacts participant attraction to the job, and (2) participant…

If leadership education programs are improving, then why do some American graduates fail in leading schools and districts even as others succeed? As one way to answer this question, this study explores the preparation, careers, and success or failure of two superintendents prepared in top tier university leadership preparation doctoral programs.…

This article reports findings from formative assessments of one state's administrator mentoring and induction program during two years of program piloting in 2002/03 and 2003/04. The purpose of this evaluation research was to establish baseline data and to detect problem areas, so that changes could be made in subsequent years. More broadly, the…

Accountability and assessment are critical components to the success of schools today. As leaders of school districts, superintendents in Texas and across the nation are faced daily with meeting this challenge. While doing so, they must remember that their priority commitment is not to testing programs, but to helping children achieve.…

Moore reviewed the literature on accountability and assessment in order to design a questionnaire to survey superintendents across Wyoming on their existing and needed knowledge about student assessment. Results on the presence or absence of gaps in knowledge that is deemed important by respondents and/or the literature can be used by colleges and…

Alignment means that in order to improve student achievement and learning, school districts need to have clear standards of attainment with which their curriculum and accountability measures must align. At the state level, this notion of alignment or coherence refers to the state-developed policies that comprise its accountability system. In the…

The perception that superintendency is a difficult role to assume is reflective of the general feeling that the job of school superintendent is filled with external pressures often played out in the arena of public criticism. Considering that understanding the role of motivators and inhibitors in superintendency is important, this article examines…

Explores impact of expanded boundary-spanning role of Connecticut superintendents on their ability to function as educational leaders. (Contains 24 references.) (PKP)

Qualitative study involving the attitudes of 12 Northwest superintendents (four each from Oregon, Washington, and Idaho)toward site-based management. Finds among other things that in most cases school-based management has had little influence on the centralization of authority and control by the superintendent. (Contains 16 references.) (PKP)

Investigates strategies used by female superintendents to overcome perceived barriers to attaining superintendent positions. Surveys randomly selected nationwide sample of female public school superintendents. Finds, for example, that the three most successful strategies are obtaining the support of family, developing a strong self-concept, and…

Exploratory study of seven superintendents' perspectives on the recruitment process, selection criteria, and final selection decisions of 20 recently hired principals and assistant principals. Superintendents were from a variety of small and midsized school districts and communities. Generates four hypotheses to be tested in future studies.…

Reports the relationship between the teachers' participation in organizational decision-making and the perceived influence attributed to their administrative superiors, the principal and the superintendent. (Author)

Examines the idea of the administrative team as a management and leadership strategy that, while difficult and demanding to put into practice, holds great potential for increasing administrative effectiveness and efficiency and thus influencing positively the learning program for the children served by the school system. (Author)

Sets forth some generalizations about the involvement and influence in state education policy-making of four kinds of actors: state boards of education, chief state school officers, governors, and educational interest groups. (Author)