School Administrator: October 2018
Leadership in Rural Schooling




The Shared Superintendency

BY ALAN WECHSLER
When one leader manages two (or more) neighboring school systems, there may be savings and efficiency, but the expectations of each community can be difficult to manage.

The Big Impact of Networking in Small Places
BY DANETTE PARSLEY
School leaders in remote and rural districts need not feel disconnected. The author manages a formal collaboration initiative in the Pacific Northwest that holds promise for educators everywhere.

The Power of Place in Rural Schooling
BY SARAH E. DAHILL-BROWN AND ASHLEY E. JOCHIM
A pair of researchers find that superintendents who embrace small-town politics may be well-positioned to impact legislation and policy.

Rural Recruitment and Retention
BY ALLEN C. PRATT
The director of the National Rural Education Association says the challenge of landing teacher talent will require web-based marketing practices.

Homegrown Superintendents
BY SCOTT LAFEE
Plenty of upsides can be fingered by those who lead the schools they once attended, but they also suggest the personal connection can complicate decision making at times.

 



STARTING POINT
Attending to the needs of school leadership in rural America.

STATE OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY
Leave Accrual Upon Departure
What an AASA survey learned about this nationwide.

BEST OF THE BLOGS
Four sharp insights excerpted from superintendents’ recent blog postings.

ETHICAL EDUCATOR
The $20 Motivator
A high school English teacher offers financial incentives to the top test scorer and the biggest test improver. Should administrators allow this?

LEGAL BRIEF
Drone Use on School Property
BY TERRY S. MORROW
Federal regulations and your insurance liability have much to say about operations on or above school district grounds.

BOARD-SAVVY SUPERINTENDENT
Who's Responsible for Meeting Agendas?

BY MICHAEL T. ADAMSON
Policies regarding roles and responsibilities should govern who places items for action and discussion before board members.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Professional Networking While Tweeting

BY MICHAEL LUBELFELD
Hashtag chats are meaningful forms of growth for digitally connected superintendents.

FOCUS: STUDENT SAFETY
Scaring Off the Child Predators

BY KIMBERLEE D. NORRIS
A lawyer’s three ideas for making schools less likely places for bad characters to seek easy victims.

MY VIEW
Between Challenging Opportunities

BY NICHOLAS A. FISCHER
A veteran of several superintendencies, the author calls it a fool’s errand to blame oneself for others’ decisions.

MY VIEW
The Genius of Public Education

BY WILLIAM J. MATHIS
Seeing the primary purpose of the common schools movement as strengthening the well-being of society.

Reading & Resources

  • Book Reviews
  • Why I Wrote This Book...
  • Bits & Pieces


 

  

PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Rural Education Matters

BY CHRISTOPHER O. GAINES
AASA’s president grew up in a Missouri town of 1,200, so he has a full appreciation for schooling in small communities.

EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE
Attending to the Needs of Rural Leaders

BY DANIEL A. DOMENECH
The association plays a supportive role for rural superintendents, who comprise a third of the member ranks.

PEOPLE WATCH
The latest update on members’ comings and goings. The Sidelight shines on an Indiana superintendent with a passion for pedaling.

PROFILE: Joseph N. Meloche
BY LIZ GRIFFIN
The superintendent in Cherry Hill, N.J., is a promoter of student voice.

 



READER REPLY

LEADERSHIP LITE
Two fundamental facets
Two fundamental facets
Two fundamental facets
  • Two fundamental facets
  • A few lessons

  • Laurie Kimbrel: Post-superintendency career changing
    Laurie Kimbrel: Post-superintendency career changing
    Laurie Kimbrel: Post-superintendency career changing
    Laurie Kimbrel: Post-superintendency career changing