Evaluating School Superintendents: A Guide to Employing Fair and Effective Processes and Practices

This book provides guidelines to Boards of Education and the members of communities to conduct a high-quality, research-based evaluation of their school superintendent. It also includes examples of contemporary practices of evaluating superintendents practiced across the United States. In exploring the important issue of evaluation for the superintendent the complexities and aspects of the process that make it unique are highlighted.

Issues addressed include:

• Existing state policies that require/govern superintendent evaluations & their impact on practice
• Evaluation models that should be considered for evaluating superintendents
• The consequences of not having a clear set of policies/procedures
• Determining the major roles and responsibilities upon which the superintendent's evaluation should be based
• Documenting the superintendent’s job performance
• The policy, procedures, and training required for board members to successfully implement a superintendent evaluation system

The evaluation process proposed ensures fairness to the superintendent as well as providing accountability to the school district and community. The focus of all evaluations should be on improved performance. Evaluation is a means to an end. The ultimate purpose of superintendent evaluation is improving individual performance in order to ensure quality services and programs to students.