0.3 Preparing and training superintendents for the mission of

Preparing and Training Superintendents for the Mission of Executive Management

Superintendent preparation and training has remained substantially unaltered for a half century. Statecertification requirements drive the content and activities for preparation programs housed in higher education institutions. Stateagencies never participated in superintendent preparation beyond awarding certification to post master’s educators completing an“approved”course of study. However, high stakes testing and accountability pressures are now causing a few states to reconsidertraditional paths to superintendent certification. Illinois and Washington have“opened”the superintendency to individuals without educational, managerial, executive, or higher educationbackgrounds. What the effects of these attempts“to”provide local school districts with“superintendent choice”is unclear at this time.

Reform literature discussing preparation, selection, and evaluation of superintendents generally questionsthe abilities of superintendents to bring about higher student test scores. Seldom discussed is effective management of resources andsystems. Policy literature often tosses aside superintendent management responsibilities as being a“technical”matter, not germane to the development of transformational executiveleadership.

This paper focuses on“real”superintendent management preparation or training necessary to effectively andefficiently manage district fiscal, personnel, and physical resources. The creation of an effective and functional managementsystem is most definitely a pre-condition for exercising effective leadership. Seldom are high scoring districts found withouteffective superintendent led management systems.

What is needed is a new vision of superintendent executive level management training consisting of acooperative effort between universities, state agencies, and professional associations. This new paradigm should cast managementtraining in an equal role with leadership preparation. The existence of higher education and degree programs should not beeliminated but augmented by state agency resources and involvement with professional associations.