New Superintendent's Toolbox

Also see: Transition to Superintendency Program
     - practical and valuable

   About Transition

Experience vs. Potential: Hiring Superintendents in a Tight Market
   By William D. Silky, Ed.D., Professor of Educational Administration
How to Get a Good Letter of Reference - JMM 
Superintendent's Employment Contract
     Reflections on the Superintendent's Employment Contract [NYS]
     The Superintendent's Employment Contract - JMM 
Superintendent Interview Questions
     Sample 1 Questions 
     Sample 2 Questions  
     Sample 3 Questions 

   In This Toolbox - with source

Prior to Starting

Entry Plans
     Use of an Entry Plan - JMM     
     Sample Entry Plans:
        - Example #1 - Ralph Kerr
        - Example #2   pdf only
        - Example #3 - Tom Mele
        - Example #4   pdf only
        - Example #5   pdf only
        - Example #6   pdf only
        - Example #7   pdf only
        - Example #8   pdf only
     "Starting Confused: How Leaders Start When They Don't Know Where to Start"
         - Jentz and Murphy, Phi Delta Kappan, June 2005
Focus of Superintendent Efforts - NYSCOSS  pdf only 
Getting Organized - JMM
Getting Started List  (14 pages) - JMM  pdf only
          - General Guidance and More
"The Classic Mistakes of New Superintendents" - AASA article 
         - Kerrins and Cushing, The School Administrator, February 2001
          -  Seven classic mistakes and six excellent strategies provide direction

When New

Establishing the Second Contract with the Board of Education
    (the Social Contract) - JMM
     "A Board Member's Ten Commandments" - Unknown
     "A Superintendent's Ten Commandments" - Unknown
     Boardmanship - Unknown
     Five Filters for Decisions
         -  Gary Worden and Waneta Griffin
     Why Board's Micro-Manage and What to Do About It - JMM
     Productive Board of Education Activities - JMM
     Template for Clarifying Roles of the Board of Education and
           the Superintendent of Schools - pdf only

Personal Problems Affecting the Superintendent -JMM
"Seven Surprises for School Leaders" 
     Patrick F. Bassett, NAIS, reprinted with permission
Superintendent's Annual Calendar  - JMM - pdf only
Superintendent's Annual Fiscal Calendar - JMM - pdf only
"Superintendents' Biggest Mistakes" 
    - Iowa Association of School Administrators
Superintendent's Calendar of Standard Monthly and Quarterly Reports - JMM
Superintendent and School Law - JMM
     Law-related resources a new superintendent should have (diagram) - pdf only 
     Attorney Involvement - pdf only      
Superintendent Networks - - Information - Advice - Support - Feedback
What Superintendents Read - JMM

CONTACT US
- comments, corrections, source documents, and questions welcome 

Pre-Superintendency
 • Superintendent Development Program
    - New  Cohort starts in January 2009 - Statewide
 • Transition to Superintendency Program
  - Summer 2008 in Victor (Rochester area), NY
  - Fall 2008 in Wheatley Heights (LI), NY
New Superintendents
  • See "New and Experienced Superintendent" (below)
  • Cycles of Success
  • Transition to Superintendency Program
  - Summer 2008 in Victor (Rochester area), NY
  -Fall 2008 in Wheatley Heights (LI), NY
New and Experienced Superintendents
•  At the Table Negotiating Skills
   - Fall 2008 TBD
•  Effective Evaluation of the Problem Teacher
    - Fall 2008 TBD
•   Everything is Negotiable
    - TBD
•   Fiscal Navigation for Superintendents
     - Fall 2008 (Albany, Rochester, Syracuse)
•  Successful Administration of School Construction Projects
     - TBD
 •  Tenure - Developing a Culture of Quality and Accountability
    - Fall 2008 TBD
 •   The File Cabinet
Lead Superintendents
 • Mentoring and Faculty Work
Other Support Workshops and Programs
 •  Audit Committee Training 
    - Available on request
•  Best Practices for Extraclassroom Activity Funds
  - Summer 2008
•  Board Member Fiscal Training - Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability
     -  Spring 2008 TBD
     - and available on request
•  Business Management Advisory Service
  - Available on request
• Claims Auditor Training  
  - Summer 2008 Dates to be determined 
•  School Business Officials Training & Support Program
   - Ongoing (currently running in Central, Eastern, South Central, and Western NY)
•  Tenure Culture Management Services
  - Available on request