Learning Advanced Leadership

Given the lack of preparation incoming school district superintendents receive and the many challenges they face, this article reviews the approach of the few existing programs for new superintendents and describes the leadership development strategies that would be beneficial. With this background, the article presents the findings from an evaluation of the New Superintendents Seminar Series, a pilot program created and managed by a major research university. Over a single calendar year the New Superintendents Seminar Series provided five weekend sessions and a week-long summer institute to six participants with less than three years of experience as superintendents. The series created learner-centered, action-oriented and reflection-rich learning strategies to develop self-directed learning, peer-mediated learning and engagement with experts. An action research evaluation demonstrated that, in general, the program faculty observed and the participants rated the series high as a learning experience and as a means for developing their leadership capabilities. They also reported that the series had an important impact on their approach to leadership and concrete work in their districts.