District Administration - November 2008 - (Page 73)

PROFESSIONAL OPINION • Stan Paz Identify professionals with a passion for education and steer them in the right direction. Now Is the Time to Recruit Future Leaders SCHOOL DISTRICTS FACE A MUL titude of struggles. To make matters worse, a new challenge is on the horizon: ﬁnding enough qualiﬁed leaders to become superintendents. e “2007 State of the Superintendency Survey” released by the Association of School Administrators’ Center for System Leadership found that 87 percent believe an inadequate supply of educational leaders exists to ﬁll the anticipated superintendent openings in the near future. As a former superintendent, I understand why many educators and professionals may shy away from the role. It’s a tough job. Yet it’s a rewarding career. To develop more qualiﬁed district leaders for our future, we ﬁrst must identify young professionals who demonstrate a passion for education and steer them in the right direction. We have a unique opportunity to mentor those we see with budding potential. ere are many great training programs, such as Harvard University’s Urban Superintendent’s Program, and great large districts, such as the Los Angeles Uniﬁed School District, which requires administrators to participate in ongoing professional development. Second, we need to be sensitive to our population’s shifting demographic and recruit more minority and female leaders. Consider this: Only 1 percent of current superintendents are Hispanic. Likewise, the majority of teachers are women, yet few move on to the top administrative roles. is is a challenge to overcome. Backward Mapping If you are a professional considering moving into a superintendent role, don’t be www.DistrictAdministration.com We need to be sensitive to our population’s shifting demographic and recruit more minority and female leaders. intimidated. Begin by setting a plan for your own success. Like the saying goes, “If you don’t know where you’re going, how do you plan to get there?” With that in mind, every future district leader should take time to backward map for success. e ﬁrst basic step to becoming a successful superintendent is to establish a vision for what type of leader you want to be. Do you want to be known for your no-nonsense approach to ﬁnances? Would you prefer to be seen as a passionate leader who improves test scores? Knowing what you value in the leadership role will help determine what type of school district attracts you most. If you want to be a leader who empowers others, a small, already successful district might be a good ﬁt. If standing up for the less advantaged is what motivates you, then step up and seek an urban district struggling to improve achievement for all students. From there, you can back up to reﬁne the skills needed to lead that speciﬁc type of district. You want to match your passion with the school district. If you’re working for a district with a large number of English learners, for example, you may want to spend more time building your cultural competency. Six Essential Steps Another key to success is following the “Standards for School Leaders” developed by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium. is guide to leadership policy and practice says the six essential steps for superintendents are: 1. Have a vision. 2. Establish a mission-driven culture. 3. Manage like a business leader. November 2008 73 RESOURCES AASA Center for System Leadership’s Institute for New and Aspiring Superintendents www.aasa.org Institute for Educational Leadership www.iel.org School Leadership and Administration: Important Concepts, Case Studies, and Simulations, 8th ed., by Richard A. Gorton and Judy A. Alston (McGraw-Hill, 2009) www.mcgraw-hill.com http://www.aasa.org http://www.iel.org http://www.mcgraw-hill.com http://www.DistrictAdministration.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - November 2008

District Administration - November 2008
School Breakfasts: An Added Value
Contents
Editor’s Letter
Letters
1-2-3 Campus Safety
News Update
Administrator Profile
District Profile
Snacks as Part of Your School Nutrition Program
Technology
Facilities & Construction
Admissions
DA Web Seminars
Leadership Assessment
How Well Does This Web Site Work?
New Products
Technology Books
Professional Opinion
Supervisor’s Opinion
Crisis Response
Problem Solution
Research Center

District Administration - November 2008