Evaluating the Superintendent

The Process of Collaborative Compromises and Critical Considerations

Jarett Powers and Constance D. Evelyn

As local elections and other occurrences can transform a board and its direction, having a performance review cycle to ensure that all board members understand the philosophy undergirding the superintendent’s evaluation is critical to ensuring that all members of the governing board are operating within a similar framework and purpose as they approach the superintendent’s evaluation cycle. Acknowledging that superintendents have the potential to grow in their professional capacity, revisiting the philosophical underpinnings of the evaluation over time ensures that the process does not remain static. Each chapter within this text is designed to develop the basis for understanding the superintendent’s evaluation process to create opportunities for an open and continuous dialogue between superintendents and school boards. This book will support those charged with leading and governing public schools to implement effective evaluations for both school boards and superintendents that provide an objective and summative collection of the superintendent’s annual performance and his/her relative impact on targeted success within a given school year.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / AASA Post Copub

Pages: 126 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9⅛

978-1-4758-4981-3 • Hardback • July 2019 • $62.00 • (£48.00)

978-1-4758-4982-0 • Paperback • July 2019 • $32.00 • (£25.00)

978-1-4758-4983-7 • eBook • July 2019 • $30.00 • (£25.00)

Subjects: Education / Administration / School Superintendents & Principals, Education / Evaluation & Assessment, Education / Professional Development

Evaluating the Superintendent

The Process of Collaborative Compromises and Critical Considerations

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

As local elections and other occurrences can transform a board and its direction, having a performance review cycle to ensure that all board members understand the philosophy undergirding the superintendent’s evaluation is critical to ensuring that all members of the governing board are operating within a similar framework and purpose as they approach the superintendent’s evaluation cycle. Acknowledging that superintendents have the potential to grow in their professional capacity, revisiting the philosophical underpinnings of the evaluation over time ensures that the process does not remain static. Each chapter within this text is designed to develop the basis for understanding the superintendent’s evaluation process to create opportunities for an open and continuous dialogue between superintendents and school boards. This book will support those charged with leading and governing public schools to implement effective evaluations for both school boards and superintendents that provide an objective and summative collection of the superintendent’s annual performance and his/her relative impact on targeted success within a given school year.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / AASA Post Copub

Pages: 126 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9⅛

978-1-4758-4981-3 • Hardback • July 2019 • $62.00 • (£48.00)

978-1-4758-4982-0 • Paperback • July 2019 • $32.00 • (£25.00)

978-1-4758-4983-7 • eBook • July 2019 • $30.00 • (£25.00)

Subjects: Education / Administration / School Superintendents & Principals, Education / Evaluation & Assessment, Education / Professional Development

Author

Jarett S. Powers has served as the Superintendent of Schools for the Union Springs Central School District since November of 2014. Prior to his role as a superintendent, Powers held many leadership positions including high school principal, associate principal, and department chair.

Constance D. Evelyn has over twenty years of experience as an educational leader in public schools and currently serves as the Superintendent of Schools in Valley Stream, NY. As a long time public educator, she has received numerous awards and recognition for her leadership and dedicated service to students across the state of New York.

Table of Contents

Foreword by James Harvey

Acknowledgements

Introduction: Why Evaluating the Superintendent Matters

Chapter One: The Relationship- How it Starts is How it Ends

Chapter Two: Institutional Memory

Chapter Three: Communication, Communication, Communication-Mind the Gap

Chapter Four: “Standards” of Leading

Chapter Five: Solstice

Epilogue by Dan Domenech

References

About the Authors

Reviews

This work is a perfect blend of an academic and authentic articulation of the significance of leadership. It is grounded in rich research, yet provides a genuine practical tone, allowing it to be a resource for education leaders and boards of education alike. In this era of heightened accountability for performance, this book by Drs. Evelyn and Powers is timely…a must read.
— L. Oliver Robinson, Superintendent of Schools, Shenendehowa CSD; NYS Superintendent of the Year 2011

This book emphasizes the critical component of the evaluation process and the board-superintendent relationship. The real world examples provided put into perspective those issues that Superintendents deal with on a daily basis. Anyone who wants to move their district forward with district driven goals tied to an objective, effective evaluation process should read this book.
— Jacinda Conboy, Esq., General Counsel, New York State Council of School Superintendents

The evaluation of the superintendent is the most important process for school boards and district leaders to understand when reflecting on student growth and overall district progress. This book provides valuable insight and practical examples-grounded in research-to inform and strengthen the superintendent evaluation process. A must read for school board members, superintendents and others interested in moving forward our nation’s school districts.
— Sharon L. Contreras, PhD, Superintendent of Schools, Guilford County, North Carolina