ABSTRACT

The board of education has in most communities the authority to set the direction under which business occurs in its schools. It's almost as if boards of education have the ability to draw the maps and conditions in which direction ships set sail. They design the prevailing winds, determine the water currents, and even include the landmasses that ships should either avoid or set port in. Some boards of education experience a problem in which the wrong people want to be designing the maps. This would be when the superintendent wants to set the direction for everything—when someone wants the board to be a rubber stamp. In order for Difference Makers to feel at home while resisting the temptation for quick fixes and direct involvement in management, an optimal relationship must be established early, as soon as the superintendent is hired.