New Superintendent Articles

Connected Challenges The accompanying “spider map” below illus trates the complexity found in the superintend ent’s world. The spider map is meant to capture the range of leadership challenges superintendents face in 2013. We don’t claim that it’s complete; any reader could probably add elements from her or his own experience. Nor do we feel a need to define the items on the map; they are sufficiently self-explanatory What struck us in constructing the map is how

Over the past few years, Superintendent Christopher MeGinley has had to deal with a bitter desegregation lawsuit regarding which of two high schools in Lower Merion African- American students would be assigned to attend. He’s also dealing with an embarrassing disclosure that district-provided laptops were photographing students in their bedrooms, bal ancing a budget squeezed by dramatic increases in state pension costs and a contentious dispute about funding for state-authorized cyber char ter schools.

7flL\ / Context / Demography and sociology ( Economics — wealth distribution I and income disparity Resources provided for I public education A Out of school learning

Policy & Politics Federal/state/local! school/foundations Board/executive/employee! community/parent Incentives (money, permission, working conditions) Standards and assessments

— Employees; goods and services

Contracts

ZrshiZE1 / Defining mission, / values, vision Stability/transitions

PZingwit

Diffuse power; symbolic role Networks and partnerships

A

/

Brand management

Market Choice, charters, privatization, competition

Technology

Education as a commoditc Market

instructionai technology;

segmentation

independent, magnet,

Networked learning

—

home schooling, custodial

Management information

Goals, objectives, accountability Revenues linked to performance

systems and data proliferation

Communications and

Entrepreneurship

social media

24 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR SEPTEMBER 2013