The Transylvania County Schools recently completed the process of selecting a new superintendent. As part of that process, their School Board conducted an online community survey. The survey asked individuals to rank the importance of a list of 20 characteristics desirable in their new superintendent. Leigh Kelley, Times-News Staff Writer, wrote an article about the results of the survey. The online version of the article is available at the link below.
The following comments are taken from the article.
When it comes to choosing the next superintendent of Transylvania County Schools, experience in the top role is less important than service as a successful classroom teacher or principal, according to the results of an online community survey.
Among the survey findings:
- It was deemed “very important” for a new superintendent to have strong people skills. This was rated No. 1 one out of 20 characteristics considered desirable.
- The ability to get parents, students, staff and the community to work together was the next highest rated characteristic respondents said they wanted in a superintendent.
- Understanding current school programs, communicating well with all groups in the community and being accessible and responding to concerns in a timely fashion rounded out the top five.
- Being an effective classroom teacher and/or principal ranked eighth out of 20 categories.
- Experience as a superintendent ranked 14th.
There was also a way for people to leave comments. I hope that the I-SS Board will do a similar survey. And, as others have mentioned about school surveys this should be completed using an independent online survey source and not through the I-SS web site. The School Board should get the results without having anyway of knowing who left a particular comment or ranking.
Unfortunately, the article did not give the full results of the survey. I agree with the top ranked items in the Transylvania survey. What other characteristics would you like to see in the new I-SS superintendent?
I agree with the top desireable traits as well. People skills is a must in leadership.
ReplyDeleteApparently the next super replacement is not a concern to anyone. The public won't give input but they will sure gripe later. I'm glad I retire from this mess in two years.
ReplyDeleteJust curious, are you a retiring teacher or administrator?
ReplyDeleteI'm not going there with this vindictive bunch.
ReplyDeleteThe BOE hasn't asked for us to put in our input yet. When/if a survey comes out where they do in fact want input, there will be concern aplenty. The information posted above by Paul is Transylvania, not Iredell-Statesville. So, why hasn't ISS asked for our input yet?
ReplyDeleteWhy should the board ask for input when people won't even comment on here? When I retire I won't be looking back. ISS is a joke run by vindictive children in adult bodies.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, you should retire; you sound very vindictive and probably should move on.
ReplyDeleteI think those characteristics that Transylvania picked are perfect. The only one to add would probably have to do with outside agenda. The superintendent should come in with no outside agenda to gather personal glory. The focus should be on working as a whole unit instead of being steamrolled for personal gains.
12:30... I just got in and checked the posts. How is that being positive working for you? I see you posted over 4 hours ago and none of the children have answered you. looks like you and Mr. Coover are all alone in your efforts. Counting the days until I am gone.
ReplyDeleteIronic that Transylvania Co. was Holliday's old stomping ground....a little obsessive?
ReplyDelete6:51 --- to quote Bacon, "Knowledge is power." And to add to that, it is wise to learn from others -- both from their missteps (hiring Holliday) and from their successes (smart criteria and process for hiring a new superintendent).
ReplyDeleteYou don't want to learn from Transylvania CO. unless you want to go backwards.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we go forward, but in the wrong direction. It is sometimes wise to look back and see what was overlooked.
ReplyDelete