School Administrator: February 2020
Cultural Responsiveness, Biases and Prejudices




The Reality of Unconscious Racial Bias
BY SARAH E. FIARMAN AND TRACEY A. BENSON
The admittedly uncomfortable and sometimes tense task of navigating behavioral and attitudinal change in schools.

Waking From a Nightmare in Baraboo
BY LORI M. MUELLER
A superintendent in Wisconsin details the healing and recovery following the viral posting of an offensive photo of high schoolers posing in a Nazi salute.

Promoting Culturally Responsive Leadership Practices
BY MUHAMMAD KHALIFA
What does it mean to shine a light on marginalized children through humanistic practices and data scrutiny?

Harvesting the Garden of an Equity Audit
BY GEORGE THEOHARIS, NATE FRANZ AND SARAH GENTILE
A district-university team in Syracuse, N.Y., sparks changes in student access to advanced classes, athletics, drama and music extracurriculars following a systemwide examination of practices.

Safe Havens for LGBTQ Students
BY JOHN MALLOY
The superintendent of Toronto schools on moving beyond flag waving to generate substantive resources, access and personal support.

 



STARTING POINT
Attention to a Wisconsin superintendent’s courageous communitywide campaign.

STATE OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY
Performance Evaluation
An AASA national survey finding on the contractual assessment of the superintendent.

BEST OF THE BLOGS
Excerpts from four superintendents’ blogs that reflect on their leadership actions.

ETHICAL EDUCATOR
Split the Grading Difference
A dispute between a 9th grader and his English teacher who wants to “split the difference” over a paper either misplaced or never submitted.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Knowhow in Your Pocket
BY E. SCOTT ENGLAND
A well-chosen podcast can be just the answer for a busy leader’s professional development.

BOARD-SAVVY SUPERINTENDENT
E-mail’s Entanglements When Doing Board Business

BY NICHOLAS D. CARUSO JR.
It’s become too easy for board members to use e-mail to substitute for more appropriate ways to do its work.

LEGAL BRIEF
Parental Tracking With GPS
BY DAVID B. RUBIN
Ought schools draw the line on devices affixed to young students with a “listen in” feature that allows parents to eavesdrop?

MY VIEW
Quality Versus Quantity of Time

BY JACK A. KAUFHOLD
Is an extension to the school day necessarily beneficial to students?

MY VIEW
My Mother’s Voice

BY THERESA ALBAN
Advice still applicable from this superintendent’s formative years: “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”

OUR VIEW
Leading Through Conflict With Three Words

BY THOMAS R. HUGHES AND FRANK D. DAVIDSON
Two former superintendents promote these ideas to fledgling school leaders in their university training: react, reflect, reframe.

FOCUS: STUDENT SUPPORT
Dealing in the Aftermath of Student Loss

BY BRENDA KOLBE
Having a districtwide plan in readiness for a human tragedy.

FOCUS: SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
Three Forecasting Strategies for Staffing Needs

BY AYINDÉ N.A. RUDOLPH
A Northern California district regularly adjusts staffing to address changes in student population and teacher absences.

Reading & Resources

  • Book Reviews
  • Abstract
  • Bits & Pieces


 

  

PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Equity Is Not a Cliché

BY DEBORAH L. KERR
Where’s the vital lesson after racial slurs are tossed at her students on the playing field?

EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE
An Up-Close View of Moroccan Schooling

BY DANIEL A. DOMENECH
A recap of an AASA international seminar in a predominantly Muslim nation in North Africa.

PEOPLE WATCH
Our monthly assemblage of career changers in the member ranks.

PROFILE
: Kristi Sandvik
BY JULI VALENTINE
AASA’s president-elect delights in the population growth in her midst.

 



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