This time of Christmas Holidays is a good time to consider the responsibilities of the superintendent during holidays and breaks in the school calendar. Having worked in several different school districts varying in size and complexity, I feel qualified through experience to speak to this issue. As aspiring superintendents, or at least as aspiring superintendent certificate holders, it is important that each of you consider the demands of the job BEFORE you have an opportunity to seek such a position.
Most people, including many school district staff, believe that the superintendent and his staff are also on holiday during school holidays. In larger districts, in which many of the responsibilities can be delegated to other staff, the superintendent does have the luxury of enjoying some "down time" during school breaks or holidays...UNLESS a serious incident occurs at one of the schools or at a school event or, in some cases, incidents involving a school employee or even a student. In such instances, the media, the police, or family members may ask the superintendent for assistance...even though he/she is in the middle of a school holiday.
First, it is important to realize that school boards hire a superintendent to be the Chief Executive Officer of a school district 24/7 and 365 days/year. Certainly, superintendents usually have vacation days and the school calendar provides other days in which it is not necessary for the superintendent to be in his/her office. However, when a serious incident related to a school facility or school personnel occurs, it is usually best for the superintendent to be available to respond to such an incident.
In smaller districts, where "face time" is important, superintendents may feel the need to attend holiday basketball games or host a meal at a holiday basketball tournament or cheer on the band at a holiday parade. If a sprinkler pipe breaks in one of the high school gyms spraying water on the new wooden floor, the superintendent is probably not the first person who would need to respond. However, depending on the size of the district, the superintendent probably needs to be present as the district responds and would need to make the board aware of the incident.
If a staff member is involved in a high profile crime during the holidays, the superintendent may be contacted. This is especially true if the crime or incident is related in any way to students.
These thoughts are not intended to suggest that superintendents never get a vacation or time away from their responsibilities. However, they are intended to motivate future superintendent certificate holders to consider and be aware of the likelihood that your holiday plans may not be free from district responsibilities. A superintendent must be prepared to respond to district issues--even during the Christmas Holidays. Merry Christmas!
Dr. Creel,
ReplyDeleteI am employed by a small school district and "face time" is very important. Being available at all times is a necessary evil. Although duties are delegated, oversight and guidance is important. Being aware of the circumstances if problems occur during the holidays will make for a smooth transition back to work once the holiday is over.
My husband is employeed in a small 3A district while I work in a large 5A district. As a result I have had the opportunity to see how very different the expectations related to the roles of the superintendent are. While both districts have expectations regarding "face time" the events and duration of time spent at those events varies widely.
ReplyDeleteDr. Creel your observations are spot on about the role of a superintendent. In some districts, the superintendent is the face of the district 24/7. The smaller the district, the increase in the number of hats one must wear. In taking this next step down the road of my professional path, it is important that one realize that a superintendent's job responsibilities are not always just the ones written down in the job description.
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ReplyDeleteI have worked almost exclusively in small districts throughout my career. I agree that in smaller districts the superintendent is not only the face of the district, but also becomes involved in many of the details of the day to day operations. I have seen superintendents take this to different extremes. My current 3A superintendent rarely misses an activity in the district. He can be seen at all extra curricular activities from 7th grade to the varsity level. I have also seen superintendents serve turkey in the cafeteria for a holiday dinner, serve as the cashier at lunch, or substitute as a bus driver in emergencies. Small school superintendents do this with less assistants/deputies which to delegate the other responsibilities. Although on a smaller scale, he/she still has to make sure that the same services and quality education are provided.
ReplyDeleteThe opposite often occurs for small school principals. They deal with the day to day operations of running a campus, but may also have more experience in dealing with issues at the district level. They often provide the support that would be provided by assistant/deputy superintendents in a large district. They often are required to view things from the district perspective.
I have worked under several superintendents in the same 4A school district over the past 18 years. I have witnessed many leadership styles and agree with the post and other comments that the superintendent is often the face of the district and being visible and available to campuses and the community is important. The successful superintendents I have worked under have gone above and beyond to be visible and available to all stakeholders.
ReplyDeleteI have had both highly visible and never seen superintendents. One superintendent was seen as a cheerleader for education- she was known for that, while another was never seen on campus- he was there or board meetings, business openings, but the kids did not this superintendent. At my current district, my superintendent is visible, can be seen at a plethora of events and works well with the parents and community members. Where is the happy middle? I think that depends on what the board wants and what the people request. Some communities want leaders present at everything and when they think of their district, this person's face comes to mind. Others want a superintendent that is in the loop when it comes to the politics of Texas education. Can we measure their success by how visible they are? How many committees they participate in? I don't know, but what I do know is their longevity does improve with appearances as well as how authentic they seem to their stakeholders. That is what lasts in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at the responsibilities of a superintendent. They are truly the CEO of a large corporation. In many districts, they are one of the largest employers. They oversee many different facilities and the maintenance of those facilities. They must develop strong positive relationships with the community, their campus leaders, and the board. It is not surprising that the longevity of a superintendent is around three to five years!
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