October 2016: School Administrator
Scoring legislative points for your students, schools
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Additional Articles
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Never Hesitating to TestifyLegislative advocacy brings multiple rewards
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My Doubled-Sided Life in State AdvocacyBeing a politically savvy superintendent isn’t difficult. Just do what you do best — educate legislators.
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A Day of Education Advocacy on the HillThis is what a day looked like during Hill Day at AASA’s 2016 Legislative Advocacy Conference in July
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Facing the Facts: Why School Policies Backfire
Authors of a new book finger the factors in a school district that lead to negative effects of well-intentioned efforts. Policy backfire, they say, is movement in the exact opposite direction of what was desired.
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Two-Way ConversationsHow first-year superintendents are using data to build political capital that enables system change
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‘If Only You Knew …’
Facts that could change the game for superintendents who are new to a school district.
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Perceived Highest Skill LevelsPerceptions of what superintendents rank as their top area of ability.
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Post-Game HistrionicsDoes a teacher’s profanity-laced tirade to his son’s varsity football coach warrant disciplinary action?
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The Measurability of Our Communication ToolsSocial media tools allow you to analyze the reach of your messaging in ways that anecdotes can’t.
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Orienting That Newcomer on Your Board
Breaking in a new member means helping them understand the chain of command.
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Use of Overdose Antidotes at SchoolWith the rise in opioid overdoses, should educators be ready to administer a reversal drug?
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Three Strategies for Strengthening a Key Bond
Ensuring the superintendent and principals are on the same page in public view.
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Bringing Our 'A' Game by Filling Our Well
The need of the superintendent to balance the domains of mind, body and spirit.
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Standing Up Against Those Common Criticisms
The public school system most accurately reflects the promise of America.
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Who Is ‘Government’?Have you noticed that the mode of the day — especially around election time — is to be hypercritical of all things labelled “government”?
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The Essence of Your Community ConnectionsThe public visibility of the superintendent bears on job impact — and professional survival.
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Inside AASA: Kayla Jackson on Alternative School Breakfast
Our association's project for making the morning meal more accessible to students in need.
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Is a Horse on Your Employee Health Plan?
The importance of conducting dependent verification projects on district employees
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Warm Recognition in Canada’s HinterlandAn AASA member profile on Curtis Brown, superintendent, South Slave Divisional Education Council, Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada
Staff
Editor's Note
The Advocacy Front
When an educator moves into a superintendency for the first time, one of the starker realities deals with political forces that constantly buffet public education. Exactly how you are supposed to keep your schools sailing smoothly into those strong head winds is something you don’t necessarily pick up in a graduate program or experience in other K-12 roles.
That sets the stage for this month’s theme on the eve of the next presidential election: The politically savvy superintendent and legislative advocacy. For well-informed insights and advice, we’ve turned to authoritative voices in education and advocacy.
Steve Joel, in his 32nd year as a superintendent, has encountered his share of harmful political forces. Fortunately for his colleagues in the profession and for us at AASA, he’s willingly shared many times over the years what he’s learned from these difficult situations. His latest piece for School Administrator, “Lessons in Political Readiness,” demonstrates again how a savvy school system leader refortifies the enterprise in pursuit of students’ best interests.
You’ll also find useful insights in the articles penned here by Jack Jennings, an observer of Congress’ work in education for a generation; Michael Fitzpatrick and Joan Wade, a pair of superintendents long active on the legislative front; and Noelle Ellerson, who heads up AASA’s public policy team.
We hope this coverage leaves you better prepared — and even fired up — to assume this increasingly important leadership responsibility.
Jay P. Goldman
Editor, School Administrator
703-875-0745
jgoldman@aasa.org
@JPGoldman
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