School Administrator: March 2019

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Healing Our Systems and Making Improvement Stick
BY PATRICIA F. GRECO
Before retiring recently from the superintendency, the author incorporated the tools and processes of continuous growth to build capacity into her Wisconsin system.

• Richard Fechter: Collaborative cleaning
• Keith R. Brightman: Team walkthroughs and safety

Applying Improvement Science to the Classroom
BY COREY GOLLA
The superintendent in Menomonee Falls, Wis., sees master problem solvers across the district contributing to a relentless pursuit of excellence in the schools.

Cascading Communication
BY JOANN STERNKE
Leaders who share information with intentionality contribute significantly to the performance of the organization and its employees.

Tools and Tactics of Organizational Excellence
BY JANET K. PILCHER
What’s involved in the work of creating a high-performing school system through continuous improvement?

From a System of Schools to a School System
BY GREG GIBSON
How did a Texas superintendent apply his understanding of Baldrige quality protocols to continuous growth in his large suburban school district?

A Climate With Feedback and Self-Correction
BY STEVEN J. SPEAR
What educators can learn from private-sector models about defining problems and evolving solutions.

Four Measures for Creating a Culture of Improvement
BY MARK A. ELGART
A consulting firm’s research with districts makes the connections between continuous progress and school success.

STARTING POINT
Why we’re centering much of our attention on continuous improvement on one small school system.

STATE OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY
Effectiveness Factors
A Gallup survey asked superintendents what contributes most significantly to their impact on the job.

BEST OF THE BLOGS
Brief excerpts from four thoughtful superintendents’ musings on aspects of their work.

ETHICAL EDUCATOR
Plagiarizer From Her Past
A deputy superintendent is asked as a favor by a former student to remove content from her personal website to save a college student from a possible plagiarism accusation.

SOCIAL MEDIA
A Purposeful Use of Twitter for Global Connectivity
BY LISA BRADY
A suburban superintendent amplifies her voice as a public education thought leader.

LEGAL BRIEF
The Legalities of Classroom Apps
BY DAVID B. RUBIN
When teachers bring their own software into the classrooms, they may be raising some liabilities for the school district.

BOARD-SAVVY SUPERINTENDENT
Sowing Seeds Between Board Meetings
BY RYAN DONLAN
Using interim periods in the schedule to build positive relationships with board of education members.

MY VIEW
My Itchy Case for Authentic Learning
BY NICHOLAS I. CLEMENT
What a summer spent with two grandchildren taught a veteran educator about personal development and growth of students.

MY VIEW
Helping Children Navigate the Digital Age
BY THERESA R. ALBAN
Dependency on our smartphones may be taking a toll on children.

Reading & Resources

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

 

  

PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Investing in Improvement
BY CHRISTOPHER O. GAINES
Effective organizations know the same old thinking yields the same old results so they strive to continuously improve.

EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE
The Culture Shift of Personalization
BY DANIEL A. DOMENECH
The excitement of watching personalized instruction well adopted in a classroom.

PEOPLE WATCH
A monthly collection of comings and goings of AASA members.

PROFILE: Renee Dove
BY JOETTA SACK-MIN
The superintendent in Okmulgee, Okla., gambled on a personalized curriculum that’s now paying off.