Selection of School Superintendents

Public education in the United States entered a new era of accountability and reform in the 1990s. The transition process in public education continues in the twenty-first century (Smith, 2000). The changing demands of public school systems in this dynamic period demand not only strong leadership qualities but also leadership qualities compatible with contemporary public school environments and the communities that they serve (Hoyle & Slater, 2001).

The literature reviewed in this chapter will therefore focus on the leadership skills possessed by candidates for school superintendent, thei approach to leadership practice, and the values held by those candidates. To be successful as a school superinntendent, the leadership skills, approach to leadership practice, and values of the individual in that position must be fully compatible with the needs, culture, and values of the school district and of t

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In most organizations, it is a rare event for a single individual to complete an entire decision-making process without functioning at least part of the time as a member of a group. Group participation in an organizational decision-making process assumes even greater significance, when the effective execution of an organizational decision requires a commitment on the part of many people. Commitment will be both stronger and more easily developed, if those individuals of whom it is required are participants in the decision-making process (Deal & Peterson, 1999). There are, however, both advantages and disadvantages associated with group decision-making. A significant advantage to the process is that the potential range of knowledge among a group of individuals is much greater than that for a single decision maker. Additionally, group participation in the decision-making process typically results in a better understanding of the decision reached (Deal & Peterson, 1999). The major disadvantage to group decision-making results from the presence in a group of social pressures. Superior-subordinate relationships within a group, as an example, may result in no meaningful participation on the part of a subordinate. Attaining con
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Approximate Word count = 5454
Approximate Pages = 22 (250 words per page)

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