Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Drinking from a Firehose
A. Thrust into the Driver's Seat: The New Kid on the Block
B. The Divided Board: A Potential Landmine
C. Understanding the District's Landscape
D. Evolution of the Superintendent's Role
E. A Seemingly Impossible Job: The Persistent Challenges
F. A Steep Learning Curve for New Superintendents
G. Leadership Tips for New Superintendents
H. Concluding Thoughts
I. Case Study #1: The Outsider
J. Case Study #2: The Rise and Fall of a Turnaround Superintendent
Chapter 2: It is a People Business. It Always Has Been and Always Will Be.
A. Put a Good Team Around You and Let Them Utilize Their Expertise
B. Considering Leadership Placement and the Responsibilities of Central Office Staff
C. Get Good at Reading People and Knowing Who to Trust
D. Find a Mentor or Thought Partner. Don't Wait for One to Show Up.
E. Female Superintendent Perspectives on Mentoring
F. Small, Rural Districts: Starting Place for Several Latina Superintendents in California and Texas
G. Woman Leader of Color Shares Lessons Learned from Mentor's Missteps
H. When Adults Behave Badly
I. Small Districts: Learning What People Value, And Being Relatable and Approachable
J. Strong Family Relationships: A Key Ingredient
K. The Power of the Community to Save a Superintendency
L. Concluding Thoughts
Chapter 3: If You Don't Navigate Your School Board Successfully, They Won't Let You Last
A. Clarify Roles and Orient New Board Members
B. Make Trust a Priority
C. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
D. Get on the Same (or at Least a Similar) Accord
E. Get to Know Board Members
F. Where There is a Quorum, There Should Ye Be Also
G. Leverage the Board Chair
H. Do Not Under- or Overestimate Rouge Board Members
I. Know Who controls the Funding and Stay Connected
J. Concluding Thoughts
K. Case Study #3: Just Let me Do My Job!
L. Case Study #4: Leadership in Crisis: The Southwest Fletcher Consolidated School Board

Chapter 4: Reversing the Course: Leading High Achieving Districts Where Students of Color Are Successful
A. Examining (in a Trusting Environment) What Adults Can Do Differently
B. Diverse Public Schools Contrast Sharply with the Cultural Backgrounds of Principals and Superintendents
C. Culturally Responsive School and District Leadership
D. Anything You Wouldn't Do for Your Own Children, You Shouldn't Do for Children in Your District
E. Leading Instructional Dialogues
F. Investing In People (Not Programs) To Get Them to Do Better and Celebrating Successes Like the 4th of July
G. Utilizing Strategies to Explicitly Address Inequities
H. How Does the Strategic Calculator Work?
I. Once Goals Are Set, How Do Schools Realize Them?
J. How Was the Strategic Calculator Developed?
K. Utilizing the Culturally Responsive Classroom Walkthrough Instrument
L. Data Analysis, Identifying Best Opportunities for Improvement, Problem-Solving and Developing Focus Areas
M. High School Focus Groups: Instrumental in Identifying Strategies to Improve Student Outcomes/Experiences
N. Concluding Thoughts
O. Case Study #5: Helping Principal Whitley Lead an Equitable, High-Achieving School
Chapter 5: It Did Not Get This Bad Overnight.
A. The Pace of Change
B. The Knoster Model
C. Leading Changes in Academic Achievement
D. Visiting 40+ Classes a Year in a Small District and Charting School Progress
E. Advanced Teacher Mentoring Positions
F. Supporting Innovative Principal Ideas and Eliminating Excuses
G. Changing Systems and Protocols
H. Politics, Policy and the Business Side of the Job
I. Hiring the Right Chief Finance Officer (CFO) and Admitting What You Don't Know
J. Chief Financial Officer's Advice for Superintendents
K. Developing Budget Non-Negotiables and Averting Issues with District Finances
L. What Superintendents Should Know about the Budget Before Accepting the Job
M. Selecting and Supporting Principals
N. Developing District Systems for Improving Student Performance
O. Principals Whose Students Did Not Meet Growth Placed on Support Plans
P. Concluding Thoughts
Chapter 6: Making Better Decisions: How Superintendents Resolve Complex Matters
A. Decisions to Eliminate Budget Deficits
B. How Long Does It Take to Eliminate a Budget Deficit
C. Inclement Weather Decisions: Snow, Hurricanes, and the Like
D. Permanently Closing Schools
E. Does This Help Our Kids? Is it Best for Our Schools?
F. Chief Finance Officer's Advice on Closing Schools
G. Leadership Decision-Making Approach: Like Playing 3-D Chess
H. Is it Legal, Moral, Ethical, Aligned with Policy?
I. How Core Values and Your “North Star” Guide Decision-Making
J. Board Member's Daughter-in-Law Applied Multiple Times for a District Position
K. Employee Reductions-in-Force
L. Firing A Principal
M. Removing A Football Coach
N. Concluding Thoughts
O. Case Study #5: Involuntary Teacher Transfers
Chapter 7: You've Got to Keep the Job to Do the Job.
A. Tips for Landing and Keeping the Job: Advice a School Board Attorney
B. Negotiating Your Contract
C. Get Good at Specific Skills that Make You Indispensable
D. Leaving Every District Better Than I Found It Academically and Financially
E. Charge to Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Better Preparation for the Superintendency
F. Make Time to Power Down and Unplug
G. Concluding Thoughts