The Board and Superintendent Handbook: Current Issues and Resources - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1475815506 ISBN 13: 9781475815504

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2015

Synopsis

The Board and Superintendent Handbook: Current Issues and Resources is a practical guide for both board members and superintendents. The book includes contributions from experienced and new superintendents and board members on a wide range of topics that boards and superintendents must navigate together successfully in order to move districts in a positive direction for students, staff, parents, and communities.

About this title

About the Author:

Amy E. Van Deuren, EdD, JD, is the principal at West Allis Central High School in West Allis, Wisconsin. Prior to her appointment at West Allis, she served as the Wisconsin Director of Education Programs for National Louis University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, working with aspiring school principals and superintendents. Dr. Van Deuren has co-authored several books in the fields of educational leadership and music education.

Thomas F. Evert, PhD, is a former public school superintendent of fourteen years. He served in three school districts over a 38-year career as a high school principal and director of student services prior to the superintendency. Dr. Evert is currently serving as a dissertation liaison, advisor, and instructor in the doctoral educational leadership program at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin.

Bette A. Lang, EdD, served as a superintendent for fifteen years in four school districts. Prior to her superintendency, Dr. Lang served as a middle and high school principal and director of instruction. She currently serves as a dissertation liaison, advisor, and instructor in the doctoral educational leadership program at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin.

Review:

Superintendents seeking to work effectively with school boards will find useful counsel in The Board and Superintendent Handbook. This book addresses key issues related to orienting school board members to the complex role of the superintendency in guiding high performing school systems.The editors, all Wisconsin-based educational leaders now working in higher education, have selected a thoughtful array of perspectives to stimulate thinking and action by superintendents and board members in their governance and leadership roles. One valuable inclusion is an essay by former Indiana superintendent Raymond Golarz about the importance of powerful teachers and how they contribute to our national well-being. The handbook explores teacher compensation issues, consultant management actions and educational technology. Additionally, the editors identify many resources that will be helpful for superintendents and boards struggling to manage their relationships with professional associations and consultants. It also highlights the important role of the superintendent’s administrative assistant in maintaining a smooth working relationship with board members. (School Administrator)

I really found the book practical and succinct. Each chapter was a topic of mutual interest to superintendents and board members and short enough to be read in one sitting. I could imagine a board and superintendent working though the book and having rich conversations around each chapter. (Janis Berg, board president, DeForest Area School District, DeForest, WI)

School boards and superintendents are responsible for setting the direction for student achievement and learning. The more boards and superintendents can place emphasis on a common understanding of student learning related issues and resources, the greater the likelihood of success for our young people. This book can serve as a basis for professional development and the needed dialogue and discussion for district leaders. I highly recommend this book. (Daniel A. Nerad, EdD, Superintendent, Birmingham Public Schools, Birmingham, MI)

Board members and superintendents will gain better understanding of a number of important issues and resources by using this book. This book can serve as an excellent resource for board/superintendent discussions and workshops. Roles are clearly defined and there is information that is very useful for boards and superintendents which can create better understanding of issues, and responsibilities. The book is a concise read for educators and non-educators alike. (Nancy Sonntag, Former President, School District of Janesville Board of Education, Janesville, WI)

The need for clear and constructive communication between board members and superintendents has never been more critical. This book examines a number of compelling issues which the leadership team in every district must face. The analysis provided in this book serves as a practical yet comprehensive resource guide to enhance board/superintendent interactions. (Stephen F. Murley, Superintendent, Iowa City Community School District, Iowa City, IA)

About this edition

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1475815506
• ISBN 13: 9781475815504
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 154
• Editor: Van Deuren Amy E., Evert Thomas F., Lang Bette A.