Behind the Curtain

Tackling the Myths and Mistakes of School Management

Anthony P. Barber and James P. Capolupo

Superintendents hold a significant position in school systems. In serving the school board, community, staff and students simultaneously, a superintendent’s role is dynamic and multifaceted. In realizing that the stability of a school system is set by the guidance of the superintendent, the need to attract quality personnel is apparent. However, did you know that the average tenure of a superintendent is less than five years (AASA)? With such fluctuation, school districts are consistently facing change. And although change can be righteous in some instances, variations in leadership can cause distress and anxiety for those who look to deliver upon a stable mission and vision.

Behind the Curtain: Tackling the Myths and Mistakes of School Management is a down-to-earth, practical guide for educators to assist them with the pitfalls that can be associated with upper management. The Hidden Superintendent explores complex issues of power, control and motivation to expose their direct and indirect influence upon us. The hope is superintendents and central office will be able to utilize this text as a learning experience when facing both the common and complex issues. Some additional key features of this book include:

Discover Thinking Patterns. This text looks to discover thinking patterns that underlay the work and then provide a clear, practical approach for not only the issue at hand, but the great thinker behind the issue. In addition, the text also lends itself to college classrooms, as it has the case studies and situations to spark critical conversation.

Practical. Behind is a practical approach to leadership theory. Each chapter has a “Practical Advice” section which provides solid guidance for future use.

Research-Based. The roots of the text are cemented in the works of Fienberg and Soltis (Schools and Society), Edward Hall’s Levels of Culture, Clabaugh and Rozycki’s educational foundations, Hertzberg’s motivation theory and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Interactive. Behind has case studies for each chapter, which are meant to kindle conversation surrounding the topic. Furthermore, the sections “Try It” and “Don’t Try It” give further testimony to the practical application of the information

Can be utilized for college classes. The text also lends itself to college classrooms, as it has the case studies and situations to spark critical conversation

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Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 162 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4758-1265-7 • Hardback • March 2015 • $70.00 • (£47.95)

978-1-4758-1266-4 • Paperback • March 2015 • $36.00 • (£24.95)

978-1-4758-1267-1 • eBook • March 2015 • $34.00 • (£23.95)

Subjects: Education / Administration / School Superintendents & Principals, Education / General, Education / Leadership, Education / Professional Development

Behind the Curtain

Tackling the Myths and Mistakes of School Management

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

Superintendents hold a significant position in school systems. In serving the school board, community, staff and students simultaneously, a superintendent’s role is dynamic and multifaceted. In realizing that the stability of a school system is set by the guidance of the superintendent, the need to attract quality personnel is apparent. However, did you know that the average tenure of a superintendent is less than five years (AASA)? With such fluctuation, school districts are consistently facing change. And although change can be righteous in some instances, variations in leadership can cause distress and anxiety for those who look to deliver upon a stable mission and vision.

Behind the Curtain: Tackling the Myths and Mistakes of School Management is a down-to-earth, practical guide for educators to assist them with the pitfalls that can be associated with upper management. The Hidden Superintendent explores complex issues of power, control and motivation to expose their direct and indirect influence upon us. The hope is superintendents and central office will be able to utilize this text as a learning experience when facing both the common and complex issues. Some additional key features of this book include:
- Discover Thinking Patterns. This text looks to discover thinking patterns that underlay the work and then provide a clear, practical approach for not only the issue at hand, but the great thinker behind the issue. In addition, the text also lends itself to college classrooms, as it has the case studies and situations to spark critical conversation.
- Practical. Behind is a practical approach to leadership theory. Each chapter has a “Practical Advice” section which provides solid guidance for future use.
- Research-Based. The roots of the text are cemented in the works of Fienberg and Soltis (Schools and Society), Edward Hall’s Levels of Culture, Clabaugh and Rozycki’s educational foundations, Hertzberg’s motivation theory and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
- Interactive. Behind has case studies for each chapter, which are meant to kindle conversation surrounding the topic. Furthermore, the sections “Try It” and “Don’t Try It” give further testimony to the practical application of the information
- Can be utilized for college classes. The text also lends itself to college classrooms, as it has the case studies and situations to spark critical conversation

Book Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 162 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4758-1265-7 • Hardback • March 2015 • $70.00 • (£47.95)

978-1-4758-1266-4 • Paperback • March 2015 • $36.00 • (£24.95)

978-1-4758-1267-1 • eBook • March 2015 • $34.00 • (£23.95)

Subjects: Education / Administration / School Superintendents & Principals, Education / General, Education / Leadership, Education / Professional Development

Author

Dr. Anthony P. Barber is the Director of Teaching and Learning in the Springfield School District. He is also an adjunct professor at various universities instructing in graduate and undergraduate education and leadership courses. Dr. Barber has written various educational texts with Roman and Littlefield including The Hidden Principalship, The Hidden Teacher and Culture Clichés and Conversations. He is also coauthor of Common Threads: Investigating and Solving School Discipline, a Rowman and Littlefield publication dealing with assisting administrators in handling school discipline issues.

Dr. James P. Capolupo is currently the Superintendent of the Springfield School District in Springfield, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He has been awarded the 2014 National Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents. Dr. Capolupo is also on the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators where he serves as the Membership Chair. He also is on the Professional Development Committee and the Resolutions Committee.

Table of Contents

Contents
Disclaimer
Forward
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction

PART I: BEFORE WE BEGIN

Chapter 1: “The Legs Feed the Wolf”

PART II: PLANNING THE MOVE

Chapter 2: Say When

Chapter 3: Matching Ties…The Interview Process
Chapter 4: The Dime of the Deal…The Contract

PART III: FINDING THE STRIDE

Chapter 5: Three Months Prime
Chapter 6: Magellan’s Magical Mission
Chapter 7: Active Ears

PART IV: ASSISTING THE BOARD

Chapter 8: Your Route; Their Car

Chapter 9: Which Stone to Turn?

Chapter 10: Planning the Wedding

PART V: BUILDING THE TEAM

Chapter 11: Our Primary Function – Hiring Great Leaders

Chapter 12: Culture, Clichés, and Conversations

Chapter 13: Play to Their Strengths

PART VI: LIVING THE LIFE

Chapter 14: Dinner for One

Chapter 15: Where’s Mom?
Chapter 16: Balanced by Courage

PART VII: AVOIDING THE TRAPS

Chapter 17: “Et tu, Brute?”
Chapter 18: Bean Stalk Talk – Other Superintendents
Chapter 19: You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

PART VIII: LEAVING THE LEGACY

Chapter 20: An Elephant’s Dispatch
Chapter 21: Go Wide, My Friend

PART IX: PRACTICAL APPROACHES
Chapter 22: Try It
- Be Honest
- The Short Executive Summary
- The Early Warning
- Change the Furniture
- Go Last
- Praise Often
- Regularity
- The Personal You
- Trust the Team
Chapter 23: Don’t Try It
1. The Careless Correspondence
2. Between Us Girls
3. Lessons from Paul Revere
4. Overselling
5. Getting Too Close
6. Hire for Time’s Sake
7. Hammering the Screw
8. Shadowing the Sun
9. Neglecting Your Health
Chapter 24: Case Studies
PART: X: DAY TO DAY
Chapter 25: Questions from the Field

PART: XI: SUMMATION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Behind the Curtain

Tackling the Myths and Mistakes of School Management

Anthony P. Barber and James P. Capolupo

Behind the Curtain

Tackling the Myths and Mistakes of School Management

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