(EDL 740) The Superintendency
Syllabus of Record
Catalog Description: This course will provide a broad view of the position of
Superintendent of Schools. Areas of study will include, but will not be limited to, developing
policy, decision making, relationships with a Board of Education, staff, students, and
community, the Superintendent’s role in curriculum and instruction, politics, and
organizational development.
Unit Mission, Philosophy, Values:
Our Mission:
“Teaching, Leading and Learning in a Democratic Society”
The College of Education prepares candidates who enhance the individual growth of their
students while working to establish policies and practices that promote the principles of
democratic education. The College articulates this mission as Teaching, Leading, and
Learning in a Democratic Society.
Philosophy:
Student Potential, Ethical Implications
Believing that schools function as social and political entities as well as for the growth of
individuals, the College of Education prepares teachers and leaders
a) to enhance the academic and personal potential of their students
b) to evaluate the social and ethical implications of educational policies and practices.
Values:
“Expertise, Equity, Liberal Education, Social Responsibility”
The College of Education values expertise to guide our practice, equity to guide our
interactions, liberal education to guide our perspectives, and social responsibility to guide
our commitment to democratic education. We value these ideals in our preparation of
candidates, our development of faculty, and our relationships with the larger community we
serve.
Unit and Program Standards:
Common Unit Standards: Michigan Department of Education (MDE), This course supports the
Standards for Advanced Programs in Educational Leadership as developed by the Educational
Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC), a constituent member of the National Council for
Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Specialty Program Standards: Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC)
Course Standards and Assessments:
1. Understand the legal basis for Boards of Education and Superintendents and
analyze different models for school and district organization and articulate the
advantages and disadvantages of each as they impact students, staff, and
community. Prepare and defend a personal code of ethics appropriate to the
Superintendency. (ELCC 3.1)
2. Articulate an approach to launching a change initiative in a school district
engaging a wide variety of school constituents. This change initiative would
be a result of deep analysis of relevant data. (ELCC 1.5)
3. Understand and articulate the importance of dealing with constituents and the
media. (ELCC 4.1)
4. Explain in detail a strategy that could be used to build collaborative
relationship with community agencies and advocacy groups to improve the
educational experiences that would enrich the lives of students and families.
(ELCC 4.1)
EDL 740 Syllabus of Record:
The Superintendency
Page 2
5. Develop an understanding of special education programs, mandates, laws,
rules and regulations. (ELCC 4.2)
6. Prepare and present information to the Board of Education in a formal
meeting a plan that meets district strategic goals and objectives.
(ELCC 3.2)
7. Review and analyze Board of Education criteria for hiring a Superintendent.
(ELCC 2.4)
8. Understand and articulate a plan for utilization of district’s financial resources
to support a quality educational experience for students.
(ELCC 3.3)
9. Demonstrate a decision making process for multiple issues. (ELCC 4.2)
10. Describe the Superintendent as a change agent in achieving a quality
education for all students. (ELCC 3.1)
Common Course Assessment: Communication Plan for School District Initiative:
Developing a communication plan that outlines the implementation of a new district
initiative. This plan must provide detailed information to a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
Major Topics:



The role of Board of Education policy in a Superintendent’s decision making
process
Building positive relationships with the Board of Education, community members,
students, and staff
The Superintendent as a change agent
Course Knowledge Base:
This course is based on a framework provided from multiple sources including:
Brunner, C., Lars, B (2001). The New Superintendency. A project of the University Council
for Educational Administration Joint Center for the Study of the Superintendency. JAI, New
York, NY.
Johnson, S. (1996). Leading to Change: The Challenge of the New Superintendency.
Josey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco, CA.
Konnert, M., Augenstein, J. (1995). The School Superintendency: Leading Education into
the 21st Century. Technomic Publishing Co. Lancaster, PA.
EDL 740 Syllabus of Record: The SuperintendencyPage 3
Short, P, Scribner, J. (2000). Case Studies of the Superintencency. The Scarecrow Press,
Inc. Lanham, Maryland.
Michigan Association of School Administrators (2008). Superintendent’s Briefing Book.
Lansing, MI.