The Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards have been developed by the Council of Chief State School Officers in collaboration with the National Policy Board on Educational Administration.  There are 6 standards in which successful superintendents demonstrate competence.  They are:

Standard 1: A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.

My thoughts and beliefs:  A school’s vision is very personal to students, families and the community.  Once developed, I believe that the school’s vision helps to shape the programs and educational activities that take place within the school.  The vision should be celebrated and regularly communicated so that it is recognized by all stakeholders.

Standard 2: A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.

My thoughts and beliefs: All people must be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.  This includes students, teachers, families, administrators and community members.  Everyone benefits when our students succeed.  Creating a climate where there are high expectations for students and staff and where success, in all forms, is celebrated helps to create a safe and nurturing environment for everyone.  In order to achieve this, we need to ensure that everyone has access to the tools and training to meet their goals.

Standard 3: A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment.

My thoughts and beliefs:  I have had the opportunity to work with students from birth through age twenty-one throughout my time in education.  Those opportunities have helped to expand my knowledge of teaching, learning and student development.  Providing a safe, clean, and aesthetically pleasing environment makes school a place where staff, students, and the community want to be.

Standard 4 : A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.

My thoughts and beliefs: I firmly believe that all students can learn.  They may not however be able to learn the same thing at the same pace.  Relationships between schools and businesses, particularly in rural areas, is critically important.  Community involvement needs to be modeled by administrators and staff members.

Standard 5:  A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner.

My thoughts and beliefs:  What you say matters.  How you say it matters.  How you act matters.  It is the job of the superintendent to act responsibly when it comes to all school operations and management.  Consistency in how one acts and reacts helps to ensure that everyone will be treated fairly and in accordance with all policies and laws.

Standard 6:  A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context.

My thoughts and beliefs:  Communication with students, teachers, families, the community and the school board is key.  One must never forget that our schools are operated with public funds and are there to serve the public good by educating our future leaders.  Transparency in all that we do is critically important.

“While evidence about leadership effects on student learning can be confusing to interpret, much of the existing research actually underestimates its effects. The total (direct and indirect) effects of leadership on student learning account for about a quarter of total school effects.” (retrieved from: http://www.wallacefoundation.org)

The Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards have been developed by the Council of Chief State School Officers in collaboration with the National Policy Board on Educational Administration.  There are 6 standards in which successful superintendents demonstrate competence.  They are:

Standard 1: A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.

My thoughts and beliefs:  A school’s vision is very personal to students, families, and the community.  Once developed, I believe that the school’s vision helps to shape the programs and educational activities that take place within the school.  The vision should be celebrated and regularly communicated so that it is easily recognized by all stakeholders.

Standard 2: A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.

My thoughts and beliefs: All people must be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.  This includes students, teachers, families, administrators and community members.  Everyone benefits when our students succeed.  Creating a climate where there are high expectations for students and staff and where success, in all forms, is celebrated helps to create a safe and nurturing environment for everyone.  In order to achieve this, we need to ensure that everyone has access to the tools and training needed to meet their goals.

Standard 3: A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment.

My thoughts and beliefs:  I have had the opportunity to work with students from birth through age twenty-one throughout my career in education.  Those opportunities have helped to expand my knowledge of teaching, learning and student development.  Providing a safe, clean, and aesthetically pleasing environment makes school a place where staff, students, and the community want to be.

Standard 4 : A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.

My thoughts and beliefs: I firmly believe that all students can learn.  They may not however be able to learn the same things at the same pace.  Relationships between schools and businesses, particularly in rural areas, is critically important.  Community involvement needs to be modeled by administrators and staff members.

Standard 5:  A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner.

My thoughts and beliefs:  What you say matters.  How you say it matters.  How you act matters.  It is the job of the superintendent to act responsibly and ethically when it comes to all school operations and management.  Consistency in how one acts helps to ensure that everyone will be treated fairly.

Standard 6:  A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context.

My thoughts and beliefs:  Communication with students, teachers, families, the community and the school board is key.  One must never forget that our schools are operated with public funds and are there to serve the public good by educating our future leaders.  Transparency in all that we do is critically important. I have been very fortunate to travel to Washington DC to advocate for educational funding 4 times in the past 2 years.

“While evidence about leadership effects on student learning can be confusing to interpret, much of the existing research actually underestimates its effects. The total (direct and indirect) effects of leadership on student learning account for about a quarter of total school effects.” (retrieved from: http://www.wallacefoundation.org)