So, You Want to Be a Superintendent of Schools: Topics for Interview Questions
- Improvement of Learning and Teaching
- Implementing the Common Core
- Building Constituencies
- What do you think are the most difficult type of problems that you will face?
- Dealing with an angry hostile crowd
- Building an Effective Leadership Team
- Succession Planning
- Response to Crises
- Developing a School Budget
10.Capital Improvement Planning
11.Teacher and Principal Evaluations
12.Entry Plan–1st hundred days
13.What qualities do you look for in candidates?
14.Board-Superintendent Relationship—information to one is information to all; role is to protect the Board; Board is a body corporate; what gets communicated and how; building consensus; school board member visits to schools; communication with school leaders
15.Central Office Relationships
16.Principal-Superintendent Relationship
17.What functions does Superintendent take charge of directly?
18.Appointments and Tenure Decisions
19.Developing district goals
20.Negotiations with various unions
21.Communicating with School Counsel
22.Superintendent Hearings
23.Board Meetings—executive session; agenda; dealing with open session; role of Board President; open meeting law
24.Dealing with Grievances
25.Conducting Investigations of Wrong Doing
26.Superintendent Evaluation
27.Superintendent’s Contract
28.Bond Issue
29.Snow Days
30.Dealing with the Union Leaders
31.Transparency
32.Building High Morale
33.Creating and Sustaining Positive Change
34.Decision Making Process
35.Making Unpopular Decisions
36.School Security and Public Safety
37.Relations with Police and Fire Officials
38.Maintaining Positive Public Relations
39.Visibility vs. Accessibility
40.Speaking with One Voice
41.Interfacing—parents, students, teachers, community leaders, community
42.Public Image
43.Dealing with “special requests and favors”
44.Dealing with Disloyal Administrators
45.Revising and Creating School Board Policies
46.What would you do if you strongly disagreed with a decision of the Board?
47.How long do you expect to remain in the district?
48.Are there any issues that might be non-negotiable?
49.Free speech and student publications
50.Role of technology
51.Cost of special education
52.Comprehensive Self-Evaluation
53.Buildings and Grounds
54.Cost Saving Strategies