The Superintendent's Fieldbook: A Guide for Leaders of Learning - Softcover

"The Superintendent's Fieldbook accomplishes everything it sets out to do. This remarkable book for new as well as veteran superintendents is thoroughly researched, practical, and compelling. If I could have but one book on my shelf to support the all-encompassing work we do, The Superintendent's Fieldbook would be the one." (Suzanne Cusick, Superintendent 2012-11-14)

"I've found most guides for superintendents to be long on theory and short on practical advice. The Superintendent's Fieldbook doesn't make that mistake. This is where school leaders and aspiring superintendents can learn how to survive on the job, bargain like a pro, engage with the public, and work with their boards while tackling the achievement gap and explaining to the public what's right with American schools." (Gloria J. Davis, Superintendent 2012-11-20)

"These are indeed difficult times to be an educator. To be in a position of leadership is especially daunting. The Superintendent's Fieldbook provides sound guidance to help leaders steer through a sea of half-truths, misleading claims, and misperceptions. More than ever, the public needs leaders who speak with wisdom and authority. This fieldbook will help in that task." (Diane Ravitch, Author/ Reasearch Professor of Education 2012-11-26)

"The Superintendent's Fieldbook combines a lucid review of leadership theory with practical, hands-on advice for school leaders. Learn how to tackle the challenges of the superintendency from people who've done the job. And explore what systems thinking and leadership theory can contribute to the complex challenge of improving American schools." (Dan Domenech, Executive Director 2012-11-26)

"The Superintendent's Fieldbook provides insights, reflections, and invaluable guidance from a practitioner's perspective. By providing a variety of superintendents an opportunity to weigh in on current issues facing public education, this resource is greater than the sum of its parts. The book captures, in print, the depth of conversation, sense of urgency, and passion expressed in the dialogues that take place at the National Superintendent's Roundtable." (Steven M. Ladd, Superintendent 2012-11-26)

An updated edition of the most comprehensive, complete handbook for the superintendency! The original book grew out of extensive funding and professional development from the highly-respected Danforth Foundation, and examines the role of the superintendent through field-based research with over 150 superintendents over ten years. Intended for urban, rural, and suburban superintendents, the book is designed to help these dirtrict leaders improve their effectiveness, learn from best practices, and fully understand the tenets of NCLB and other critical legislation. As a fieldbook, the book reflects stories, anecdotes, vignettes from practicing superintendents and is truly a practioner-friendly resource for school leaders.

In updating The Superintendent's Fieldbook, the authors draw on their five-year experience with some 100 members of the National Superintendents Roundtable. Internationally, this experience involves extensive attention to education in China and Europe, including four site visits to China, plans to send a delegation of Roundtable superintendents to Finland later this year, and a month spent in England and Israel by one of our colleagues examining principal development.