Superintendent Interview

I thoroughly enjoyed interviewing a sitting superintendent of a Texas school district because of his honesty and openness about the superintendency and the many facets of the position. During the interview there were common themes that I noticed with his responses that resonated with me, and those themes, I feel, will be essential to improving my leadership knowledge and skills. These reoccurring themes were listening to others, communication with others, networking, and facilitating the district’s vision.

On defining leadership and the attributes of a good superintendent, he said being confident, a good listener, and compassionate yet firm, are all key to the position. He also said being able to develop others is the sign of a good leader. He stated that, “Taking people where they want to go is being a tour guide, but taking people where they need to go is being a good leader.”  And oftentimes, that requires developing others.

Of negative or difficult aspects of the position he stated the superintendent is more removed from students due to being in a central administrative role. Dealing with high levels of stress, conflict, financial frustration over unfunded mandates and the state budgeting system are also negative aspects of his leadership position. He said there is a saying that you never want to “mess with another man’s money, another man’s kids, and another mans’ wife.” He stated that in education he is constantly dealing with two of them, their taxes and children.

In regards to developing a shared vision he states he spends the first year of his superintendency observing his district, team, staff, and community. Through observation you can learn who the “players” are, that is the “movers and shakers” in the community who he can work with to accomplish his goals. He feels everyone has the same high expectations for student learning but they all use “different paths” to get there. Manipulating these players is key to helping develop the shared vision. He also said it is important to listen to the board, because they have “hired me to run their kids, their school, their way.” Overall, listening to the community/board and learning who the important players are in the community through observation, are essential to begin developing a shared vision.

He had very good practical advice for working with the board and how he tries to accomplish that. He says that you can never communicate enough to the board. One way he does this is that on the day that the ‘board packets’ are created he takes a full day to deliver and review the packets with each board member. In doing this he is able to address issues and concerns with each member at that time, which helps him get a feel for how the board meeting will go, and with what direction he needs to take to address their concerns. He says this is advantageous in that he is able to “navigate and massage areas of conflict” more effectively.

He commented that accomplishing a wide-ranging strategic plan takes a total team effort, time, a shared vision, curriculum alignment, and stakeholder buy in.

In summary, I learned a great deal in this interview that will be valuable to me, not only in pursuit of Superintendent’s certification, but in direct application to my current role as an assistant principal.

Professional Vita

Wesley L. Graham III

(Removed contact information for blog only) 

Education/Certification

M. Ed.                                     Administration, Lamar University, Beaumont,

                                                TX, 2009 

                                    

BA                                          English, University of Texas Permian Basin, Odessa, TX, 2001

Principal Certificate                Texas

Superintendent Certificate       Expected Completion Date June 2012

Professional Certificates          Instructional Leadership Development

                                                Professional Development Appraisal System

Teacher Certificate                  1-8 English, Texas

                                              1-8 Self-Contained, Texas

Administrative and Leadership Experience

Assistant Principal, Kline Whitis Elementary,

Lampasas Independent School District,

Lampasas, TX 2010-present

·     Developed and implemented the campus master schedule for a Pre-K through grade 5 campus, accounting for the daily time of all students and staff members.

·     Created and implemented the weekly campus agenda, titled The Badger Bulletin, which communicated important information and timelines to all staff members.

·     Designed and oversaw the campus website to communicate and inform website visitors and school community stakeholders.

·     Evaluated campus attendance, which included tardiness, excused and unexcused absences, and communicated with parents of students who experienced attendance issues.

·     Observed, evaluated, and provided direction to campus teachers both formally using PDAS, and through informal walkthroughs and conferences.

District Teacher Communication Committee Representative,

Greathouse Elementary,

Midland, TX 2007-2008

• Communicated the needs and questions of teachers on my campus to the district Teacher Communication Committee.
• Communicated the agenda and developments that were addressed at the district meetings.

Campus Education Improvement Committee Member,

Greathouse Elementary,

Midland, TX, 2008-present

• Assisted in the development, monitoring, and improvement of the Campus Improvement Plan.
• Provided input into the CEIC in order to improve student achievement.

District Education Improvement Committee Member,

Midland I.S.D.,

Midland, TX, 2008-present

• Evaluated the District Improvement Plan in order to ensure compliance with the Texas Education Code.
• Provided input that was used to advise the Board and Superintendent in order to improve student achievement. 
• Collaborated with other district professionals to create the District Improvement Plan.

Third Grade Level Chairperson,

Greathouse Elementary,

Midland, TX, 2008-2009

• Served as a liaison between grade level teachers and school leadership.
• Developed and implemented a duty schedule based on grade level needs.
• Created a secure wikispace in order to conduct grade level meetings in a time efficient manner.
• Implemented and trained grade level teachers on the use of a wikispace as a tool to enhance grade level meeting requirements. 

Teaching Experience

Third and Fourth Grade Split Self-Contained Teacher,

Lamar Elementary, Midland, TX, 2001-2002

• Developed and implemented a classroom discipline management system that decreased negative student behavior and improved student discipline.
• Integrated multiple teaching methods and various instructional strategies that promoted student interest in learning.
• Created an environment that encouraged risk-taking and promoted positive relationships between students of different grade levels.

Third Grade Self-Contained Teacher,

Lamar Elementary, Midland, TX, 2002-2006

• Implemented a classroom discipline management system that decreased negative student behavior and improved student discipline.
• Integrated multiple teaching methods and various instructional strategies that promoted student interest in learning.
• Developed and sustained positive relationships with students and parents that promoted improved student achievement. 
• Chevron-Texaco Star Employee of the Month; Lamar Elementary, Midland, TX, April, 2005.

Third Grade Self-Contained Teacher,

Greathouse Elementary, Midland, TX, 2006-2009

• Implemented a classroom discipline management system that decreased negative student behavior and improved student discipline.
• Integrated differentiated teaching methods and various instructional strategies that promoted student interest in learning.
• Developed and sustained positive relationships with students and parents that promoted improved student achievement. 
• Used disaggregated data from common assessments, in addition to classroom assignments, in order to focus on improving student achievement for specific needs.
• Nominated for Greathouse Elementary Teacher of the Year for the 2007-2008 school year.
• Created classroom blog called “The TeleGraham” which received “Gold Star of Excellence” recognition; Greathouse Elementary, Midland, TX, November, 2008.

Fifth Grade Compartmentalized Teacher (Reading/ELA, Social Studies),

Greathouse Elementary, Midland, TX, 2009-Present

·     Utilized Schoolwires website to effectively extend classroom learning as well as use as another tool to communicate with the greater school community.

·     Implemented a classroom discipline management system that decreased negative student behavior and improved student discipline.

·     Integrated differentiated teaching methods and various instructional strategies that promoted student interest in learning.

·     Developed and sustained positive relationships with students and parents that promoted improved student achievement. 

·     Used disaggregated data from common assessments, in addition to classroom assignments, in order to focus on improving student achievement for specific needs.

·     Excellence in Teaching, Campus Teacher of the Year for Greathouse Elementary, 2009-2010.

·     Awarded the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers Honorary Life Membership Award by the Greathouse Elementary PTA, April 2010.

Related Experience

Third Grade Mathematics Summer School Teacher,

Crockett Elementary, Midland, TX, 2005-2006

• Developed positive relationships with students and parents that promoted improvement in Mathematics.
• Analyzed student achievement data, as well as in class assignments, in order to focus on specific areas of student need.
• Developed and implemented a classroom management system that encouraged student improvement in Mathematics.

Third Grade Mathematics Summer School Teacher,

Jane Long Elementary, Midland, TX, 2007

• Developed positive relationships with students and parents that promoted improvement in Mathematics.
• Analyzed student achievement data, as well as in class assignments, in order to focus on specific areas of student need.
• Developed and implemented a classroom management system that encouraged student improvement in Mathematics.

Additional Training/Professional Development

“CAMP TEPSA for Assistant Principals,” TEPSA, Austin, TX, October, 2010

“NCI/CPI Training- Refresher,” Lampasas I.S.D., Lampasas, TX, August, 2010

“CSCOPE Implementation Guide Training,” ESC 12, Nolanville, TX, July, 2010.

“Administrative Leadership Academic Series,” Midland I.S.D., Midland, TX, 2008-2010.

 “Nonviolent Crisis Intervention,” Midland I.S.D., Midland, TX, May, 2008.

Professional Affiliations

Texas Classroom Teachers Association, 2001-2009

Association of Texas Professional Educators, 2009-2010

Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, 2010-Present

References

References will be included on the following page, if requested. 

So it begins...

The Lamar University Academic Partnership has been an integral part of my professional development. I graduated with my Master's in Education Administration in 2009 and earned my Principal certification that year as well. What I learned throughout the program allowed me to step out of my comfort zone in the classroom and into administration as an elementary Asst. Principal, the 2010-2011 school year being my first. I am excited about another opportunity Lamar University has provided in the Superintendent Certification program. So it begins.... I am eager to see how I learn, progress, and change throughout this process.