ents from other districts, leaders of educational
organizations and others. Some of the external
team members were people I had worked with
in the past and who knew me well and would
tell me what I needed to hear.
The transition team met for three months
and reviewed a large amount of data; met with
employees, parents, local governmental leaders
and community representatives; and studied
the work of MCPS in the context of current
research and best practices. The group pro
duced a detailed report, identifying strengths
and challenges, as well as specific short-term
and long-term goals in each area.
The report, which was publicly dissemi
nated, provided a strong foundation for the rest
of my entry activities at MCPS. It also sent the
message that, while I respected the work MCPS
had done in the past, I was interested in areas
for improvement.
Of course, the best way to learn about
your district is to spend time in the schools,
watching teaching and learning take place
and talking to staff and students. This has to
be more than a token classroom appearance
and a few words at a staff meeting. You have
to spend significant time observing instruction
and listening to what teachers, principals and
support staff are telling you about their school
and their district.
In the end, much of what I learned from the
“ftansition Team Report” was reinforced dur
ing my school visits and other entry activities,
allowing me to consider thoughtful changes
that would improve what was an already suc
cessful district.
Listening and Learning
The first year of a superintendent’s tenure is a
time for listening. There are a lot of issues and
available at any time. When we invited our
area legislators to meet with our students
and staff, we were thrilled when every
single one took us up on our offer
Connecting with rnemovs and colleagues.
New superintendents need a mentor, who
can share insights based on experience to
help a rookie deal with first-time situations
or serve as a listening board. My mentors,
Brian Talbott, Nine Mile Falls superintendent,
and Mike Dunn, superintendent of the
NorthEast Washington Educational ServIce
District in Spokane, heard from me almost
daily during my first year.
Connecting with colleagues indMdu
ally and through a state association can
contribute substantially to a successful start
professionally and personally.
Focusing on student achievement
One of the first things was to develop a
superintendent’s creed that encompassed
my beliefs. My creed
—
To provide for, pro
tect, and lead the Freeman Schdol District
learning system and create an environment
to maximize student learning and teaching
excellence”
—
was an opportunity to begin
the new position with an intentional focus
on instructional leadership.
It is extremely Important for the superin
tendent to serve as an instructional leader
and model to maximize student achieve
ment and teaching excellence districtwide.
Understanding school finance. A first-
time superintendent rarely arrives on the
scene with a great command of district
level financial knowledge. Yet one is
expected to quickly become an authority
on how to handle diminishing resources,
ever-changing state and federal laws
for school levies and bonds.
Early on, I spent considerable time with
the district’s business manager to look at
the entire school district budget and then
with department/division leaders to review
effort, but rarely do we come with experi
ence in the entire levy or bond campaign.
Consulting with staff and community
RANDY RUSSELL
is superintendent of
the Freeman School District in Rockford,
Wash. E-mail:
breast cancer awareness.
Randy Russell (far right, back row), superintendent of Freeman School District In
Rockford, Wash., with
staff
members on Wear Pink to School Day, in support of
their respective budgets. t-’
Those of us new to the superintendency
after serving as a building principal may
have some familiarity with a local levy
related to finances, and public campaigns
members leads to understanding of the
financial climate of the district.
NOVEMBER 2013 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR
35
