Month: March 2019

I remember a time many years ago when interviewing candidates for a football coaching position we asked “what type of offense do you plan to run?”  The goal behind the question was to hear whether the candidate would speak to a predefined approach, or whether he would indicate that it was dependent upon the abilities of the student athletes on the team.  We were looking for the latter concept.  Leadership and decision making are always situational, meaning the specific scenario we face dictates how we should proceed.  What works in one district might not be successful in another.  Similarly, the …

An item I have written on in the past, both in my books and through AASA’s School Administrator magazine, relates to the concept of equal versus equitable treatment of board members. I have come to believe this is one of the most important issues superintendents can consider as it will have a major impact on superintendent/board relationships. Let me give you a scenario. You have a five member board, which includes a diverse set of members in terms of their jobs, lifestyles and activities. Sound familiar? Among your board members you have a retiree with time on their hands and …