ABSTRACT

The relationship between a school board and the superintendent is incredibly fascinating and complex. The superintendent is typically hired by a school board and then answers to this same leadership body. School board members may have incredibly varied backgrounds. Some may be former teachers, principals, or even previous superintendents. All school board members want to make a difference for their particular groups of constituents or each member wants to be a hero. One task a superintendent must focus on is how to position these individual board members as heroes by helping them do the right thing. A true hero is someone who helps others accomplishes things they didn't think were possible. Hero makers ensure that board members are able to look backward with pride and forward with hope, in every conversation. They realize something that was shared recently by a friend of them who is a superintendent: "There are two kinds of parents: board members and future board members".