Counsel for Superintendents When Parents Have the Answers

Fran Rabinowitz (right), executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, during a segment on school safety at Fox 61 news in Hartford, Conn.

Leading a school district with high wealth can bring its own set of distinctive challenges. Superintendents with current or past experiences leading well-to-do school communities recently shared their practical strategies for leading effectively in such environments.

» Build on what already exists initially instead of trying to make your own mark right away, says Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents. “There’s a temptation to bring in the ‘magic wand’ program rather than building on the curriculum and direction that’s already there.”

» Find a mentor who can show you the ropes and surround yourself with a strong staff, says Randall Booker, superintendent of the Piedmont Unified School District in California. “The team you have around yourself makes you or breaks you.”

» Be a good listener, says James Harvey, executive director of The Superintendent’s Roundtable. “Spend more time listening than spouting off.”

» Communicate and then communicate more, says Judith Ferguson, former superintendent in Hopewell Valley, N.J. “You must have expert communication and PR skills. You can’t survive in those communities without that.”

» Make sure to connect with a wide range of stakeholders, says Joshua Starr, executive director of PDK International and former superintendent in Montgomery County, Md. “Be very strategic about meeting with different groups and … creating opportunities for connections.”

» Develop emotional intelligence, says Gary Plano, former superintendent of the Mercer Island School District in Washington. “You need to have a high level of emotional intelligence to be assessing how your messages are being received.”

» Don’t over-generalize or stereotype your school community, says Betty Sternberg, former superintendent in Greenwich, Conn. “There are people of goodwill who share your values.”


— MICHELLE DAVIS