Spurning That First Offer of a Superintendency

Board-Savvy Superintendent

This is it! You made it through the first interview, and you believe you have the votes to be the next superintendent. Yet it is clear several board members, including the chair, favor an internal candidate. They hinted you are not their first choice. You are pretty sure you have five of the nine votes, so why should you hesitate?

You are applying for a job in a district that has gone through three superintendents in the past five years. News coverage shows rancor and in-fighting among board members. You are one of only a handful of individuals who applied for the job — and the only in-state candidate.

Often, educators applying for their first superintendency feel the need to accept the first offer. They believe the ensuing experience — even a bad one — will give them a step up to their next district.

A Stacked Start

While there are plenty of examples of highly successful first-time superintendents, the odds are not in your favor if you take a job with conditions stacked against you from the beginning. In particular, a contentious board is going to be trouble for someone without experience in handling such conflict.

The first cardinal rule of car-buying is apt in these situations: Be prepared to walk away before you set foot in the dealership.

These corollaries and questions apply to new superintendent candidates:

 Know what you’re getting into. Do your homework! Look at meeting agendas and minutes and search online for news stories about the board and district. Decide if you are ready for additional challenges beyond the difficult job of being a superintendent.

 What are the district goals? Are they consistent with your belief structure? Will you feel good about working toward those goals?

 Why is the incumbent superintendent leaving? Often boards end up hiring a person the near-opposite of the last superintendent, especially when things weren’t going well. If things were going well, they might be looking for someone to continue the work that was started.

 Interview the board. During the job interview, don’t be afraid to ask questions that will help you decide whether the job is right for you. Whether it is autonomy in hiring staff or board members visiting schools on their own or talking to staff, ensure you agree up front how decisions will be made before accepting the job.

 Investigate the conditions between the board and other town agencies. Having a good relationship between the city/town agencies and leadership is important for success. If that relationship is not healthy, you will have challenges in the way of your (and the district’s) success.

 Is this a district where you can learn how to be a superintendent? While you can study and network and learn much of what a superintendent’s job is all about, nothing trumps experience. Some districts are the perfect training ground, especially when the district is running soundly and the prior superintendent left things in good standing. But starting in a chaotic district where little is smooth-running is asking for trouble. While you may be just what the district needs, you need to make a conscious, deliberate decision.

 Is your skill set a good match? Boards often need a new superintendent to “fix” an issue. Maybe it is special education or finance or curriculum. Every superintendent must be a jack of all trades, but usually you have one area of particular expertise. If a district is in financial straits and your expertise is instruction, consider whether this is something you want to tackle.

 How hard is the board working to make you feel welcome? A strong relationship works best when both parties want success. Do you sense the board wants to help you succeed?

Most superintendents fill multiple jobs over their careers. If the offer in hand doesn’t seem right, wait for another. Most superintendents with whom I’ve worked love their jobs. With some diligence, you will have a better chance of loving your job, too.


Nick Caruso is senior staff associate for field services and coordinator of technology at the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education in Wethersfield, Conn.
@gibsonjunkie