Job Plan

In the last 9 months I have had the opportunity to watch an experienced superintendent join a school district as the new superintendent.  I have also had the opportunity to change jobs myself, moving from central office in a 4A district to central office in a large 5A district.  Here are some of my thoughts about becoming a new superintendent.

Day 1
Goal(s)	Establish the communication expectations with the key leadership partners.
Objective(s)	My objective for the first day would be to meet with the President of the Board of Trustees and with the central office team that would comprise the Superintendent’s Cabinet in order to begin to establish the communication expectations essential to the operation of the district.
Activities addressing goals and objectives	·         Meet first with the President of the Board of Trustees.  Discuss communication expectations – superintendent to board and board to superintendent.  Share phone numbers and email information.  Craft and send an email message to the other school board members. ·         Meet with the central office team that will comprise the Superintendent’s Cabinet.  My cabinet would be comprised of:  Executive Director of Finance, Executive Director of Human Resources, Executive Director of Public Information, Deputy/Associate Superintendent(s) – Operations & Curriculum, and Superintendent’s Secretary.  Goals of the meeting would include: -        Establish the weekly schedule for Cabinet meetings. -        Share phone numbers and email addresses. -        Establish the expectations of communication of information (positive or negative) with the superintendent. -        Let leaders share the current focus of their department. -        Begin to establish the vision – Central office exists to support the schools.  The bus does NOT stop at central office.
Resources needed to achieve goals and objectives	Smile, strong handshake, good listening skills, charismatic posture, and a conference room.
Week 1
Goal(s)	Establish the communication expectations with the board, school and departmental leadership partners.
Objective(s)	My objective for the first week would be to meet with the campus principals individually, meet with the school board members individually, and meet with the central office departmental directors as a team.
Activities addressing goals and objectives	-        Meet individually with each campus principal by going to their campus.  Establish communication expectations. Share phone numbers and emails (call anytime).  I want to be the first one to hear anything good happening on your campus and anything negative.  I do not want to be surprised. Establish the procedure for meeting with the superintendent (semi-open door - go through the secretary).  Allow principals to share their needs.  Begin to communicate the belief that they are THE principal – if they need support, central office is there to support them, because they are accountable. -        Meet with Board of Trustees individually to establish communication expectations (phone numbers, emails, etc.) and give and receive information regarding current issues. -        Meet with the central office departmental directors to establish communication expectations (phone numbers and emails),call anytime,  establish the procedure for meeting with the superintendent (semi-open door - go through the secretary) and begin to establish the vision - Central office exists to support the schools.  The bus does NOT stop at central office. -        Lead the first weekly Superintendent’s Cabinet meeting.
Resources needed to achieve goals and objectives	A good secretary to schedule meetings, a strong handshake, good listening skills, a smile and note taking skills to remember names.
Month 1
Goal(s)	Establish the communication with the district stakeholders.
Objective(s)	My objective for the first month would be to continue to establish myself in the community as THE Superintendent by meeting with groups of stakeholders throughout the district.
Activities addressing goals and objectives	-        Meet with each campus faculty to begin to establish the vision of the district. -        Meet with the business/community leaders to begin to establish a district vision.  (President of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, ministerial council, radio/tv interview managers , etc) -        Create a district Superintendent’s Advisory Council comprised of teachers, parents, students, and non-instructional staff to meet monthly. Schedule the first meeting of this team to begin to identify the district vision. -        Lead the first board of trustees meeting as the new superintendent. -        Schedule and lead the first monthly principal’s meeting. -        Schedule and lead the first monthly director’s meeting.
Resources needed to achieve goals and objectives	A good secretary to schedule meetings, a strong, consistent message to communicate, a strong handshake, good listening skills, a smile and note taking skills to remember names.
Year 1
Goal(s)	My goal for the first year is to establish clear lines of communication with all district stakeholders.
Objective(s)	Develop a district vision based on the input of all stakeholders. Be widely visible in the community. Lead in budget, curriculum and accountability success.
Activities addressing goals and objectives	Weekly and monthly meetings with leadership teams. Attend all varsity district functions and community events.
Resources needed to achieve goals and objectives	A good secretary to schedule meetings, a strong handshake, good listening skills, a smile, patience  and note taking skills to remember names.