This article was written for our Superintendents Leadership Network in April 2020. It features ten pillars for superintendent leadership. A link to the full article is included.

  1. Models and Develops Trust: Gives priority to building personal trust and trust in the organization.

  2. Clarifies the Vision: Consistently and continuously communicates and clarifies a clear and compelling vision of the future.

  3. Knows What He or She Believes: Understands the need to be clear about what he or she believes and understands that shared beliefs are the foundation of the direction of the organization.

  4. Enhances Capacity: Attends to developing the capacity of the organization and the capacity of the people who are part of the organization to support continuous innovation.

  5. Educates Community: Educates the community, especially community leaders, and informs policymakers about the condition of education.

  6. Thinks and Acts Strategically: Employs systems thinking to understand how systems are linked to one another and how they interact.

  7. Personalizes Relationships with Principals: Develops personal relationships with all principals in the district.

  8. Unifies Central Office Staff: Educates central office staff so they understand and are committed to the direction in which they are being led.

  9. Shares Authority: Shares authority rather than delegates it. Views authority as affective and highly personalized.

  10. Personalizes Relationship with the Board: Strives to work as part of a team with the board in order to focus on the needs of children and the future of the community.

Read the full article here:

https://schlechtycenter.box.com/s/q9wryp8kidn28fg0avkzkyx9yn9bwg8s