Learn from the lived wisdom of 19 successful long-term superintendents as they reveal the mindsets, strategies, and leadership practices that drive sustained district success.
This book will leverage the extant literature and wisdom of 19 veteran, successful superintendents who have served for five or more consecutive years in a district wherein a majority of the schools under their direction are meeting or exceeding the state's expectations for student performance. The target audience would be novice (i.e., those with less than three years of experience) and veteran superintendents, especially those who are desiring more stability and seeking improved outcomes. Professors of educational leadership/superintendent preparation programs and aspiring (doctoral students in particular) will also find the book to be of interest of them. Through structured interviews, the authors have identified lessons, skills, practices and dispositions that have led to successful outcomes, all of which could have a positive impact on the readers' longevity and overall efforts to support their students, staff, and communities in quality ways.
Arvustused
This is a must-read for current superintendents or anyone who one day would like to step into that seat. I love the fact that it highlights everything from establishing relationships with board members, to navigating employee issues, to managing a budget, to the day-to-day complex decision making that defines the superintendency. To use an analogy from my coaching days, this is the playbook you should follow. -- Dr. Walter Gonsoulin * 2025 AASA National Superintendent of the Year * Derrick Jordan and Dionne McLaughlins book is a poignant reminder that while knowledge from college course lectures and in-box simulations are important preparation activities for future superintendents, wisdom gained from actual practice is much scarcer and always in short supply. They also are mindful that experience alone is no guarantee that next time better decisions will be made. That only happens when there is reflection, self-examination, and listening to critical friends. The authors are experienced former school administrators with humor, grace, and bruises to qualify as seasoned models and mentors. Their voices have authority, credibility and humility. With them you will always be in good company. -- Fenwick W. English * professor and Associate Dean, College of Education, Florida Gulf Coast University * Jordan and McLaughlin provide a comprehensive and accessible guidebook for anyone aspiring to the superintendency - or who already is a superintendent. The honest portrayal of the challenges - and opportunities - facing district leaders makes this a must have for both public school leaders and those preparing them in higher education. This book will help students of educational leadership understand the complexities of district leadership and will help aspiring or current superintendents to make sense of it all. Ultimately, this book will help educational leaders support and advance their students and school communities. -- Dr. Mónica Byrne-Jiménez * Executive Director, University Council for Educational Administration *
Muu info
Learn from the lived wisdom of 19 successful long-term superintendents as they reveal the mindsets, strategies, and leadership practices that drive sustained district success.
Acknowledgments
Preface
Foreword
Chapter 1: Drinking from a Firehose
Chapter 2: It Is a People Business. It Always Has Been and Always Will Be.
Chapter 3: If You Dont Navigate Your School Board Successfully, They Wont
Let You Last
Chapter 4: Reversing the Course: Leading High Achieving Districts Where
Students of Color Are Successful
Chapter 5: It Did Not Get This Bad Overnight.
Chapter 6: Making Better Decisions: How Superintendents Resolve Complex
Matters
Chapter 7: Youve Got to Keep the Job to Do the Job
Appendix A: Superintendent Study Interview Questions
Appendix B: Potential Case Resolutions and Condsiderations
Resources
References
Glossary
About the Authors
Derrick D. Jordan served as a school district superintendent for nearly a decade and now serves as Associate State Superintendent/Chief Operating Officer at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and Clinical Associate Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill. A published author and active contributor to national accreditation and editorial boards, he holds degrees from North Carolina Central University, East Carolina University, and UNC-CH, where he was elected by the graduate faculty as a Jackson Scholar.
Dionne V. McLaughlin is an Associate Professor (tenured) at North Carolina Central University and a British-born Black Jamaican American educator with experience as a bilingual elementary and high school principal. She holds degrees from Harvard and UNCChapel Hill, is the author of two books on school leadership, and has presented at national conferences and in school districts across several states.
