Professional Standards for the Superintendency

Book excerpt: School superintendents hold many leadership responsibilities, and much of schools' effectiveness rests on the abilities of the superintendents to meet their responsibilities. Criticisms of superintendents' training and educational background usually stem from a professor's lack of attention to a broader range of leadership theories. What professional standards should a superintendent meet? The eight standards presented are a combination of policy-maker knowledge and extensive research. The standards should serve as a foundation for the development and improvement of superintendents' preparation programs. Additionally all superintendents should hold themselves personally accountable to the eight standards. The eight standards for the superintendency are: (1) leadership and district culture; (2) policy and governance; (3) communications and community relations; (4) organizational management; (5) curriculum planning and development; (6) instructional management; (7) human resources management; and (8) values and ethics of leadership. There is a two step approach for putting the standards into operation: allow the standards to influence programs at the superintendent preparation level, and create a Standards Board to ensure the standards are being upheld by current superintendents. (KDP)