Complete Superintendent Interview
Questions
and Answers:
1. What is your definition of leadership?
My definition of leadership
is the ability to build a consensus among people to reach a common goal. A
leader must have integrity.
2. What are the positive aspects of being in a leadership
position, like Superintendent?
Positive aspects are helping
people in general, the ability to be a servant to people, and to help develop
leadership skills in others.
3. What are the negative or difficult aspects of being in
a leadership position?
One negative aspect is
making difficult decisions that involve people and another is making difficult
decisions that may not be politically favorable.
4. What do you believe are the attributes of a good
Superintendent?
Integrity, being ethical,
good listener, even keeled, no knee jerk reactions, have a good knowledge
regarding finance and academics.
5. Superintendent Competency 1 emphasizes the importance
of integrity, fairness and ethical behavior. What does ethical leadership
look like?
Ethical leadership is doing
what is right regardless of the political implications. When you do what is
right you are doing what is in the best interest of people and the organization
as a whole.
6. Competency 2 discuss the role of the superintendent in
shaping campus culture by facilitating the development, articulation,
implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and
supported by the educational community. How do you work to develop a
shared vision?
I work through my
mid-management which is my leadership team.
I try to make the vision simple and work with the leadership team to come
up with a simple vision: “Successful kids by meeting their needs.” I work
through the mid-management team so they can work at the campus level.
7. Competency 3 discusses the importance of the
Superintendent to communicate and collaborate with families and community
members, respond to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilize
community resources to ensure educational success for all students. How
should a superintendent evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies
in the school district and encourage the engagement of the community to benefit
all students?
I want the patrons to be informed and I evaluate
this through surveys. I communicate
through a broad range of media, websites, newspaper, radio, and in special
events at the school.
8.
Competency 4 focuses on the importance of the Superintendent responding to and
influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural context,
including working with the Board of Trustees, to achieve the district’s
educational vision. How does the Superintendent build a good working
relationship with the Board?
To
be honest and forth wright, when you make a mistake own up to it and take
responsibility for what goes on in the district.
The first 4 competencies looked
at the Superintendent as Leader of the Educational Community. Competencies 5 –
7 examine the Superintendent as Instructional Leader.
9.
Competency 5 examines the importance of the Superintendent planning and
implanting strategic planning that enhances the teaching and learning, ensures
alignment of the curriculum, curriculum resources and assessment; uses the
current accountability system; and promotes the use of varied assessments to
measure student performance. How does the Superintendent accomplish such
wide ranging strategic planning?
Utilize the campus leadership team in
conjunction with the site based decision making team on each campus, to come up
with a strategy and a plan to implement.
10.
Competency 6 emphasizes how Superintendents must advocate, promote, and sustain
an instructional program and a district culture that are conducive to student
learning and staff professional growth. How does a Superintendent promote
and sustain a district culture that emphasizes student learning and
professional development?
I focus on academics and instruction at
the classroom level. I provide
opportunities for professionals to grow. Professionals can grow at the district
level, regional level, and state level.
11. Competency 7 discusses
the importance of the Superintendent implementing a staff
evaluation and development
system, and selecting appropriate models for supervision and staff development
to improve the performance of all staff members. How do Superintendents
address these issues aimed at improving the performance of all staff members?
Address each individual’s
strengths and weaknesses in the leadership team, point out strengths and give
constructive criticism for areas to grow.
Competencies 8 – 10 focus on
the Superintendent as Administrative Leader.
12.
Competency 8 examines the importance of Superintendents knowing how to apply
the principles of effective leadership and management in relation to district
budgeting, personnel, resource utilization, financial management, and
technology application. More or less, the Superintendent has an immense
responsibility in carrying out these tasks. How should Superintendents
approach the management of everything from budgets to technology applications?
I do it through the leadership team
concept by hiring people in a specialized area that knows their field. I get the leadership team involved. Having a
group advocacy is better than doing it by yourself.
13.
Competency 9 states that Superintendents must know how to apply principles of
leadership and management to the district’s physical plant and support systems
to ensure a safe and effective learning environment. What leadership and
management principles help Superintendents supervise the physical plants and
support systems to ensure a safe and effective learning environment?
And please talk to us about developing organizational leadership skills.
You hire component people and hold them
accountable.
14.
Competency 10 addresses how Superintendents apply organizational,
decision-making and problem-solving skills to comply with federal and state
regulations and facilitate positive change in varied contexts. Please
discuss the importance of organizational leadership, as well as decision-making
and problem-solving skills in addressing these compliance areas and maintaining
positive change.
I use a leadership team concept for
organization. It allows people to have
input and I feel it is a more effective organization in achieving goals. This style provides people with ownership to
the organization.
15. What
additional experience, learning, or advice can you share to help me (our
student’s) develop an effective internship?
Do
what is right for kids and be a servant leader.
Do not take the easy way out because
it usually becomes the hard way out.
