Superintendent Leadership for Full-Circle Governance

• In Event: 41.073 - Superintendent and School Boards: Roles, Relationships, and Relevance

Abstract

This collective case study investigates the ways superintendents provide leadership for full circle governance in four school districts. District leadership strengthens governance at all three levels of the Canadian education system. At the school board level, effective superintendents work with trustees to meaningfully engage members of the wider community in understanding and supporting their district’s strategic plans for the learning, engagement, and well-being of students. At the school level, superintendents foster the collective leadership capacity of principals so that the voices of teachers, students, and parents have greater influence. At the provincial level, proactive trustees and district administrators actively contribute to policy interdependence by engaging in policy discourse, advocating for local needs, and providing feedback to the Ministry.

Authors

• Jim Brandon, University of Calgary

• Jeffrey Turner, University of Calgary

• James K. Donlevy, University of Calgary

• Dennis G Parsons, University of Calgary