School Administrator: August 2019

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Courageous Conversations, Concrete Actions
BY ROBERTO PADILLA
After identifying inequities in school practices, the superintendent in Newburgh, N.Y., himself a product, moved quickly from rhetoric to change operations.

• Strategies for leading for equity
• Creating a chief equity officer

Cultivating Community Schools
BY STEVEN T. WEBB AND THOMAS R. HAGLEY JR.
Partnerships and collaboration with Vancouver, Wash., district at the hub for improving school readiness, closing gaps and lifting hopes and opportunities.

• Coby Dennis and Don Coberly: Boise’s adaptation

Meaningful Family Engagement
BY TRACI DAVIS
Washoe County, Nev.’s districtwide initiative includes visits by staff, including the superintendent, to the homes of students.

• D’Lisa S. Crain: Expanding our visits with families 

Building Parent Capacity
BY PATRICIA A. SPRADLEY
The Springfield, Mass., district sees authentic relationships with students’ families as the starting point for supporting learning growth.

How Schools Give Heart to Their Communities
By visiting towns across the country for a recent book, Deborah Fallows discovered the essential place of public education and the reinvention of schools and related entities.

• Brian Benzel: Ten findings From Our Towns
• A forthcoming documentary

STARTING POINT
What attracted us to the author of this month’s cover story on courageous conversations.

STATE OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY
Paid Member Dues
Tracking over time school districts covering annual dues in professional organizations.

BEST OF THE BLOGS
Short excerpts of four thoughtful blogs run by superintendents.

ETHICAL EDUCATOR
Profiting Off Excess
May a staff member retain PCs being disposed of by his district for classroom backup and donation to charity?

SOCIAL MEDIA
Better Connecting With Students
BY GLENN M. MALEYKO
A simple icebreaker exercise turned into students’ demands for a “selfie with the super.”

BOARD-SAVVY SUPERINTENDENT
Whom on Staff to Invite to Board Meetings?
BY RYAN DONLAN
Who on your leadership team ought to be present to field board members’ likely questions?

LEGAL BRIEF
Setting Rules for Teacher-Student Texting
BY DAVID B. RUBIN
Can you balance the benefits of teacher accessibility and safe behavior for students?

MY VIEW
Five Steps Up the Instructional Leader Ladder
BY LARRY L. NYLAND
As he moved up the career chain, a retired superintendent made note of the changing expectations along the way.

MY VIEW
The Problem With Big Ideas
BY REBECCA A. ZELIS
To see fruition requires quite a commitment on the part of the organizational leader.

Reading & Resources

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

 

  

PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Keeping Students Front and Center
BY DEBORAH L. KERR
The debut column of AASA’s new elected leader.

EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE
Pipeline Program Prepares Principals
BY DANIEL A. DOMENECH
The Wallace Foundation shares important insights on building up bench strength in school administration.

PERSONAL TRIBUTE
Gary Marx: An Influential Force on AASA and Its Editor
BY JAY P. GOLDMAN
Remembering a mentor to many over a lifetime of impactful work.

PEOPLE WATCH
A status check on the comings and goings in the profession.

PROFILE: Brian T. Woods
BY LIZ GRIFFIN
A superintendent’s passionate dealings with his state’s high-stakes orientation.