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BEWARE OF THE REVOLVING DOOR

BEWARE OF THE REVOLVING DOOR. Vicki Smith . New Mexico School Boards Association. “The relationship of boards and superintendents is more like a marriage than a business partnership. And as in marriages, dysfunctional relationships between the (parties) ultimately are bad for the children.”

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BEWARE OF THE REVOLVING DOOR

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  1. BEWARE OF THE REVOLVING DOOR Vicki Smith

  2. New Mexico School Boards Association “The relationship of boards and superintendents is more like a marriage than a business partnership. And as in marriages, dysfunctional relationships between the (parties) ultimately are bad for the children.” Kathleen Vail, ASBJ

  3. New Mexico School Boards Association “Tensions are built into the existing structure of school boards and superintendents.” Michael Usdan, Institute for Educational Leadership

  4. New Mexico School Boards Association “A board in conflict with its superintendent is incapable of doing anything but poisoning the well.” Don Owen, Pennsylvania SBA

  5. New Mexico School Boards Association • Beware of the Revolving Door! • Boards should consider the district’s long-term needs. • Board expectations play a part

  6. New Mexico School Boards Association • How and where will you advertise the vacancy? • Within New Mexico • Nationally • NSBA • AASA • NMSBA • NMCSA

  7. New Mexico School Boards Association • What type of a selection process shall the Board utilize? • Board • Community Involvement • Committee and its membership

  8. New Mexico School Boards Association First the Board/Committee must define and prioritize the attributes which they are seeking in their next Superintendent

  9. New Mexico School Boards Association First the Board/Committee must define and prioritize the attributes which they are seeking in their next Superintendent

  10. New Mexico School Boards Association • The first contact any applicant has with the hiring board/committee is on paper. • Look for application materials that are neat and professional looking. • If invited for an interview, the applicant should be well prepared • having researched the school district.

  11. New Mexico School Boards Association Develop the questions for the interview based on the identified attributes

  12. New Mexico School Boards Association • Name of Interviewee:___________ • Name of Interviewer:___________ • Describe your experience and involvement with the public schools within the past five years that qualifies you as a superintendent. • To what extent do you think the superintendent can or should function as an instructional leader? • Explain how you might go about developing a school budget in a school system of our size. • As superintendent how would you improve communications with the parents and the community?

  13. New Mexico School Boards Association • Hiring Procedure and Negotiations: • Benefits • Salary • Multi-year contract

  14. New Mexico School Boards Association • Transition is the psychological process people go through to come to terms with the new situation. • Transition is internal. It is how the shift from the old to the new occurs. • Change refers to the situation that is altered: the new team, the new boss, new roles or policies. • Change is external. It is what becomes different.

  15. New Mexico School Boards Association “The interval between the decay of the old and the formation and establishment of the new, constitutes a period of transition which must always necessarily be one of uncertainty, confusion, error, and wild and fierce fanaticism.” John C. Calhoun, U. S. Senator

  16. New Mexico School Boards Association Why Do a Transition? “Illness strikes men when they are exposed to change.” Herodotus,Greek Historian

  17. New Mexico School Boards Association • Reduce the learning curve • Reduce tension during board meetings • Conduct more productive meetings sooner • Restore the level of trust among the team/board members • Dispel the “myths” about new team members

  18. New Mexico School Boards Association Brainstorming: Identifying Task Issues Think about the team or district tasks a new team member should know and understand. What are some things new members need to know early about their new job?

  19. New Mexico School Boards Association • Team operating procedures • Calendar of events for district and team • Upcoming critical events for team and district • Team goals • District plans and goals • Roles and responsibilities for everyone • Sources of information or answers • District policies

  20. New Mexico School Boards Association Brainstorming: Identifying Relationship Issues Think back to when you were a new leadership team member. How about the evening of your first “real” board meeting? What are some of the relationship issues that new team members have to face?

  21. New Mexico School Boards Association Relationship Issues • What are my expectations for working together? • How do we communicate? • Here’s what I stand for. • Here’s what I want to accomplish. • How will I know if I’m doing a good job? • When are issues serious enough to bring to the team?

  22. New Mexico School Boards Association Identify Critical Issues Identify Critical Issues (not solutions) for both the district and the leadership team A Critical Issue is a situation that is serious enough that we must address it within the next 60-180 days or we may not be able to get our job done

  23. New Mexico School Boards Association PERFORMING Tightly Knit Group Resourceful Flexible/Creative Open/Trusting Effective Close/Supportive Confident FORMING Milling Around Confusion High Ambiguity Polite/Superficial Impersonal Watchful/ Guarded "Why are we here?" NORMING Developing Patterns Cohesion Beginning Establish Procedures Giving Feedback Confronting Issues Relevant Questions STORMING Attacking/Conflict Frustration Confronting People/Leader Opting Out Difficulties Feeling Stuck Resistance Cliques

  24. New Mexico School Boards Association • Redefine Your Concept of Power • As a society, we often define power as control and domination. • This concept of power turns boardrooms into battlegrounds, even when school leaders truly want to collaborate.

  25. New Mexico School Boards Association What negative people depend upon to get what they want: Attention Sense of Power Fear Response Guilt Intimidation Elicit sympathy Momentary high

  26. New Mexico School Boards Association What negative people depend upon to get what they want: Attention Sense of Power Fear Response Guilt Intimidation Elicit sympathy Momentary high

  27. New Mexico School Boards Association • Build Trust • Without trust it’s a balancing act, dealing with different personalities. • Leads to misunderstandings, sore feelings and grudges • Professionals don’t like to admit that we let personal feelings and immature motives color our actions.

  28. New Mexico School Boards Association • Know Where You’re Going • During times of reform, tensions between the board and the superintendent can be avoided if there’s a clear plan of action. • It lessens the chance for hidden agendas and personal prejudices.

  29. New Mexico School Boards Association “The relationship of boards and superintendents is like a trapeze act, both partners must have considerable skill, impeccable timing, nerves of steel, and unwavering trust in each other.” Castillo, Greco, and McGowan

  30. New Mexico School Boards Association Are you providing a three-ring circus for the entire community? When boards and superintendents do not have their act together, they exhibit the following problems:

  31. Bickering and nitpicking over minor issues; • Scapegoating and blaming each other for things that go wrong; • Stepping on each other’s toes-- forgetting, or not honoring, who is supposed to lead on what; • Making poor decisions, due to poor communication and individuals pursuing their own special interests. New Mexico School Boards Association

  32. New Mexico School Boards Association • Second-guessing each other’s motives and decisions; • Experiencing lots of personal frustration; • Suffering from a lack of community support, and • Being unable to meet district goals

  33. Avoid Surprises • Agree on the job description, contract, and evaluation plan • Develop a strategic plan • Devise a 12-month calendar • Provide information in a timely manner • Have an agenda-building process that eliminates surprises or secrets • Have a good “citizen-speak” policy New Mexico School Boards Association

  34. New Mexico School Boards Association • Learn to Deal With Conflict • Recognize destructive conflict • Identify the issue causing disagreement • Listen to all information relating to the conflict • Brainstorm possible solutions • Find a mutually acceptable resolution

  35. New Mexico School Boards Association • Regularly Check How Your Team Is Doing • Ask: “What’s working well and what needs to be worked on?” • Candid discussion of how the Board and Superintendent function as partners • Assess your working relationship once every three to four months

  36. New Mexico School Boards Association PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER Building and sustaining any relationship is hard work. Taking the time to discuss these suggestions together can be a worthwhile investment for new superintendents and their boards as well as long-time board-superintendent partnerships that are continuously looking for ways to improve.

  37. New Mexico School Boards Association FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT VICKI SMITH 575-536-9453

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