The School Superintendent: Theory, Practice, and Cases, Third Edition provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the school district superintendent position and a blend of theory and practical knowledge pertaining to contemporary practice in this pivotal position. Readers are encouraged to engage in reflection by linking content with personal experiences. This objective is pursued by providing reflective summaries, pertinent questions and case studies at the end of each chapter. The Third Edition continues to focus contextual variables influencing practice in an information-based and reform-minded society. Current reform strategies are identified and their effects on current and future role expectations for superintendents are discussed. Special attention is given to the emerging role of superintendent as communicator. The book also contains two other noteworthy features: balanced perspectives of the potential rewards and challenges commonly experienced by school superintendents; and career development information. The former topic includes both professional and personal issues; the latter encompasses career planning, application and interview processes, and quality-of-life considerations.
Theodore J. Kowalski, Ph.D., is a former public school teacher, principal, associate superintendent, and superintendent. He has taught at Purdue University and served as professor and director of doctoral programs in educational administration at Saint Louis University. From 1981 to 2000, he was employed at Ball State University, where he was dean of the Teachers College. In 2000, he became the Kuntz Family Endowed Chair in Educational Administration at the University Dayton. Professor Kowalski is the author of over 180 professional publications, including 27 books. He is the editor of the Journal of School Public Relations, serves on the editorial boards Educational Administration Quarterly and the AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice, and was editor of the 2001 Yearbook of the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration. In 2011, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of School Administrators for his research and books on school administration. He has extensive experience as a planning consultant, speaker, and workshop facilitator. In addition to the superintendency, his primary research interests include organizational behavior, school public relations, and decision theory.
Preface PART I: THE POSITION: ROLES AND CONTEXT 1. Defining Practice 2. Society and Schools PART II: SCHOOL DISTRICTS: STRUCTURE AND AUTHORITY 3. School Districts as Organizations 4. School Boards 5. Superintendent and School Board Relationships 6. School District Policy PART III: SUPERINTENDENT LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES 7. Providing Leadership at the District Level 8. Community Leadership 9. Material Resources Management 10. Human Resources Management PART IV: PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES 11. Contemporary Challenges 12. Personal Dispositions and Practice 13. Seeking the Position Author Index Subject Index About the Author
