Superintendent Leadership

Learn more about Elaine Wilmore's PD offerings Dr. Elaine Wilmore was a public school teacher, counselor, elementary, and middle school principal before she moved to higher education. She has extensive background in everything from Early Childhood Education to creating and leading doctoral programs. She currently serves as a Doctoral Dissertation Adviser for Nova Southeastern University. She also founded and is President of Elaine L. Wilmore Leadership Initiatives, which focuses on improving campus and district leadership to increase student performance. Elaine formerly served as a Professor, the Chair of Educational Leadership, Counseling, and Foundations and as the founding Doctoral Director at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. She also served at Dallas Baptist University as Assistant Vice President for Educational Networking and Program Director for the M.Ed. and, again, the implementing director of the Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership. Prior to her position at Dallas Baptist University, Dr. Wilmore served as Special Assistant to the Dean for NCATE Accreditation, Chair and Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), and was the founder of all initial Educational Leadership graduate programs at UTA including the innovative field-based and grant funded Educational Leadership UTA, which received national acclaim, and the Scholars of Practice program. While at UTA she also served as Director of University Program Development where she developed and was the original Chair of the Faculty Governance Committee for the College of Education. Dr. Wilmore's respect amongst those in higher education has led her to serve as a tenure reviewer in four states and a manuscript and proposal reviewer for many conferences and professional journals. "I attended your workshop at College Station this past summer. I am happy to announce that I passed my certification exam the first time around! I am so excited and look forward to the future and what doors may open. Thank you for your strategies and your book!" - Elodia Witterstaetter, TX

Preface Acknowledgments About the Author 1. The Educational Leadership Constituent Council Standards as Tools for Improved District Performance Superintendent Concerns Generated by a Changing Society What Skills Should a Twenty-First-Century Superintendent Possess? Knowledge Skills Dispositions History and Development of the Educational Leadership Constituent Council Standards What Are the ELCC Standards? Creating the Connection Between the ELCC Standards and Realistic Practice The Role of the Superintendent in a Changing Democratic Society 2. It's All About the Vision Standard 1 Introduction Philosophical Framework Developing a District Vision Articulating the District Vision Implementing the District Vision Being a Good Steward of the District Vision Promoting Community Involvement in the District Vision Problem-Based Learning Developing and Articulating a District Vision: Where Are We Going to Put So Many New Students? Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Implementing and Being a Good Steward of the District Vision: Let's Try This One More Time Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Promoting Community Involvement in the District Vision: But...We Used to Win All the Time! What's Going On? Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Assessment Model Ways for You to Do It Conclusions The Ultimate Application 3. Advocating, Nurturing, and Sustaining Enhanced Student Learning and Staff Professional Growth Standard 2 Introduction Philosophical Framework Promoting A Positive District Culture Providing an Effective Instructional Program Applying Best Practices to Student Learning Designing Comprehensive Professional Growth Plans Problem-Based Learning Promoting a Postive District Culture: Hello! I'm New Here! Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Providing an Effective Instructional Program: But We're Doing the Best That We Can! Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Applying Best Practices to Student Learning: Addressing the Dropout Problem in an Urban District Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Designing Comprehensive Professional Growth Plans: The Sowell-Watson CSD University Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Assessment Model Ways for You to Do It Conclusions The Ultimate Application 4. Leadership Through Management of District Organization, Operations, and Resources Standard 3 Introduction Philosophical Framework Managing the Organization of the District Managing District Operations Managing District Resources Problem-Based Learning Managing the Organization of the District: A Winding Road in an Urban Area Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Managing District Operations: Baby, It's Raining Outside! Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Managing District Resources: Lord, Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Assessment Model Ways for You to Do It Conclusions The Ultimate Application 5. Creating a Collaborative Learning Community Standard 4 Introduction Philosophical Framework Collaborating with Families and Other Community Members Responding to Community Interests and Needs Mobilizing Community Resources Problem-Based Learning Collaborating with Families and Other Community Members: The Answer's Not Blowing in the Wind Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Responding to Community Interests and Needs: The Faint of Heart Need Not Apply Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Mobilizing Community Resources: Jimmy Cracked Corn, and We Do Care Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Assessment Model Ways for You to Do It Conclusions The Ultimate Application 6. The Ethical District Leader Standard 5 Introduction Philosophical Framework Acts With Integrity Acts Fairly Acts Ethically Problem-Based Learning Acts With Integrity: Please Don't Slay the Messenger Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Acts Fairly: Why Is This Happening to Me? What Did I Do Wrong? Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Acts Ethically: Is Equal Always Ethical? Or Is Ethical Always Equal? Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Assessment Model Ways for You to Do It Conclusions The Ultimate Application 7. District and School Community Politics Standard 6 Introduction Philosophical Framework Understanding the Larger Context Responding to the Larger Context Influencing the Larger Context Problem-Based Learning Understanding the Larger Context: It's What's Inside That Counts, or Beauty is Only Skin Deep Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Responding to the Larger Context: Change for the Sake of Change, or Too Much Change Too Fast? Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Influencing the Larger Context: Let's Define Justice Reflective Practice: Pause and Think Assessment Model Ways for You to Do It Conclusions The Ultimate Application 8. The Superintendent Internship Standard 7 Introduction Substantial Sustained Standards-Based Domain I - Leadership of the Educational Community Domain II - Instructional Leadership Domain III - Administrative Leadership Real Settings Planned and Guided Cooperatively Graduate Credit Assessment Model Conclusions The Ultimate Application 9. It's Up to You Final Applications Recommendations Go Forth, and Do Well! Suggested Additional Reading References Index

"The ELCC standards are important and should be studied by aspiring administrators. This book examines each standard, discusses its application in the workforce, and offers practical suggestions for implementation." -- Randel Beaver, Superintendent "Clearly written and targeted to meet the needs of superintendents or those aspiring to the position. The stories, vignettes, and reflective exercises for the reader are major strengths." -- Dan Lawson, Superintendent "Necessary reading for the training and practice of school superintendents. The reflection, context, and application sections of each chapter assist the reader in moving from a mere intellectual agreement with the author to the implementation of the standards and ideas." -- Janie P. Edmonds, Superintendent "This is the first professional book that I have found 'exciting' to read in a long time-I really couldn't put it down! It was insightful and made me immediately want to gather my educational leadership team together to devise our own plan. A terrific discussion starter, as well as a step-by-step plan for implementing and assessing new programs." -- Marie Blum, Superintendent "The reflective practice segments are by far the most valuable parts of the book, because they force the reader to decide how he or she would solve the problems presented." -- Robert A. Frick, Superintendent "Tells superintendents how to apply the ELCC standards for improved districtwide performance. Written by the past president of NCPEA, this book examines the foundations of these benchmarks, their practice and applications, and uses case study examples from real-world models to address issues of district culture, community involvement, and more." -- The Bookwatch, May 2008