EDLD 6473; Sec.

701 Superintendency & the School Board

University of Texas of the Permian Basin
Spring 2014

Instructor

William Allan Kritsonis, PhD Office: MB 3108

Professor, Educational Leadership Phone: 432.552.2155
University of Texas of the Permian Basin Hours: By appointment
4901 E. University Email: [email protected]
Odessa, TX 79763

The purpose of this course is to examine school boards, the superintendency, and the
relationship of each to the other. The course is hands-on, experiential and reflective
comparing some resources to personal experiences. At the end of this course, the
superintendent will know how to respond to and influence the larger political, social,
economic, legal, and cultural context, including working with the board of trustees, to
achieve the district's educational vision. (Field-based experience required). Admission
to the superintendency certification program is a pre-requisite for this course. Students
will be required to attend at least 2 School Board Meetings during this semester and
should plan accordingly.

This course is required for graduate students who are working toward Superintendent
certification and will examine the exemplary leadership standards for Texas
Superintendents as expressed in the State Board for Educator Certification
competencies.

No course prerequisites exist, however, admission to Graduate Studies or having been

granted an exception by the Office of Graduate Studies is required.

Communication Plan:

The professor will respond to all email inquiries within 48 hours. Be sure to use the
email tab on the course homepage. The professor will check the discussion board at
least twice a week. In addition to posting any important information on the
announcements page, the professor will also email the information to the students. In
case of emergencies you may contact the UTPB School of Education at 432.552.2120.
This syllabus is subject to change, please check back periodically.
Textbooks

Houston, P., & Eadie, D. (2002). The Board Savvy Superintendent. The Scarecrow
Press, Inc.

Townsend, R., Johnston, G. B., et.al. (2007). Effective Superintendent-School Board

Practices: Strategies for Developing and Maintaining Good Relationships With Your
Board. Corwin Press.

Readings from the annotated bibliography and bibliographies of each of the texts are
expected of all students. The quantity one reads is to some extent a self choice, but to
be a leader one must read journals, texts, books, daily newspaper to keep in contact
with the educational world as well as the world of children and parents.

Assignments and activities may be found under the "Assignments" tab on the course
menu.

Make every attempt to check your e-mail the announcements section at least weekly.
Good luck, together we can make this a great course and learning adventure.

Conceptual Framework - University of Texas of the Permian Basin - School of

Education

Vision

The vision of the School of Education is a community of life-long learners who

actively reflect on the impact of their values, attitudes, beliefs, and practices.

Mission

The mission of the School of Education is to prepare pre-service and professional

educators who are proactive in nurturing the life-long development of all learners. This
mission will be accomplished by:

Facilitating the acquisition of necessary knowledge, skills, and dispositions;

Cultivating the value of diversity;
Encouraging collaborative inquiry, innovation, and research;
Promoting collegiality and service in schools and communities;
Integrating technology into practice;
Providing opportunities for professional growth; and
Influencing educational practices and policies at the local, state, and national level.
Learning Outcomes for Teacher Candidates and Other School-Based Professionals:

The faculty expects that candidates will:

Demonstrate content knowledge in their respective content-area

Use appropriate processes and teaching practices
Apply knowledge about child and adolescent development
Incorporate knowledge of diversity in planning and delivering instruction
Incorporate technology in planning and delivering instruction
Plan for and assess students' learning
Create an appropriate learning environment
Communicate and collaborate with all stakeholders
Engage in professional growth

Candidate Proficiencies:

To achieve the learning outcomes, candidates must demonstrate that they "are gaining
the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to have a positive impact on P-12
student learning" (NCATE, 2006, p. 9). The following is a list of the specific
knowledge, skills, and dispositions that the faculty has determined are important for
each candidate to possess and exhibit

Knowledge (K): Our candidates will exhibit knowledge about and understand the
impact on teaching and student learning of:

theoretical perspectives of the profession

the content, processes, and practices appropriate for their students
child and adolescent development
diversity
technology
planning and assessment
the learning environment and classroom management
collaboration
legal and ethical issues related to education

Skills (S): Our candidates will be able to:

select appropriate content for use in lesson planning and delivery

apply best practices to promote learning in all students
use knowledge of child and adolescent development to direct their teaching
select from an array of techniques to meet the needs of diverse learners
integrate the use of technology into the learning environment
use appropriate assessments to measure students' developmental progress
develop an appropriate learning environment
apply classroom management techniques
communicate with all members of the educational community (students, families,
 other educators, administration, community members)
reflect on their professional performance in order to improve their professional
effectiveness

Dispositions (D): Our candidates will demonstrate a/an:

respect for themselves and a positive regard for others

passionate nature about learning
belief in the value of a learner-centered instruction
dedication to providing a safe and supportive learning environment
acknowledgement of and respect for the fact people are shaped by their cultures
commitment to clear and accurate communication
professional and ethical attitude
desire to keep current on educational research and practice.

Diversity Proficiencies (DP):

Instill the awareness of diversity for implementing inclusive instruction

Incorporate the diverse nature of learning and teaching as exemplified in the global
community.
Model critical global thinking through coursework
Conceptualize diversity experiences from a variety of perspectives:
1. to strive for social justice, equality, and equity for all learners
2. to continue the process of self-growth, narrowing the student achievement gap in our
nation
3. to empower all learners as citizens in a global society

University Policies

Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty will be handled as outlined in UTPB's

"Student Conduct and Discipline".

ADA Policy: Any student who feels that he or she may require assistance for any type
of physical or learning disability should consult with the professor as soon as possible.
To request academic accommodations for a disability contact Dr. Efren Castro,
Director of the PASS Office in the Mesa Building Room 1160, at 432-552-2631 or e-
mail Dr. Castro at [email protected] . Students are required to provide
documentation of disability to PASS Office prior to receiving accommodations.

Drop Policy: If a student is unable to complete the course, the last day to
drop/withdraw is July 14. This procedure must be completed by the student through
UTPB's Registrar's Office. Failure to complete the course or this procedure may result
in the student receiving a grade of "F".

Course Policies: Students are expected to attend class and have completed
assignments prior to the start of class. Missing more than one class may result in a
 reduction of the students grade by one letter. Students must participate in class
discussions in such a manner that their preparation is evident. Students are encouraged
to ask questions which the professor will generally answer at the time they are asked.

Course Objectives

Competency 003

The superintendent knows how to communicate and collaborate with families and
community members, respond to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilize
community resources to ensure educational success for all students. The superintendent
knows how to:

communicate effectively about positions on educational issues.

use effective and forceful writing, speaking, and active listening skills.

Competency 004

The superintendent knows how to respond to and influence the larger political, social,
economic, legal, and cultural context, including working with the board of trustees, to
achieve the district's educational vision. The superintendent knows how to:

analyze and respond to political, social, economic, and cultural factors affecting
students and education.
provide leadership in defining superintendent-board roles and establishing mutual
expectations.
communicate and work effectively with board members in varied contexts,
including problem-solving and decision making contexts.
work with the board of trustees to define mutual expectations, policies, and
standards.
access and work with local, state, and national political systems and organizations to
elicit input on critical educational issues.
use legal guidelines to protect the rights of students and staff and to improve
learning opportunities.
prepare and recommend district policies to improve student learning and district
performance in compliance with state and federal requirements.

Competency 006

The superintendent knows how to advocate, nurture, and sustain an instructional program
and a district culture that are conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.
The superintendent knows how to:

facilitate the development of a learning organization that encourages educational

excellence, supports instructional improvement, and incorporates best practice.
 facilitate the ongoing study of current best practice and relevant research and
encourage the application of this knowledge to district/school improvement
initiatives.

Competency 010

The superintendent knows how to apply organizational, decisional-making, and problem-

solving skills to facilitate positive change in varied contexts. The superintendent knows
how to:

implement processes for gathering, analyzing, and using data for informed decision
making.
use strategies for working with others, including the board of trustees, to promote
collaborative decision making and problem solving, facilitate team building, and
develop consensus.
analyze and manage internal and external political systems to benefit the
educational organization.

Assignments

Module Assignments (Modules 1 - 4)

The Professor will assign suggested and required readings for each module that will cover
elaborations of course objectives, textbook material and links to related information on the
Web. After you have completed the suggested and required readings, you should then log
into Assignment Tool and complete the required assignments for each module.

Module 1 Students will explore the board/superintendent relationship and define

board/superintendent roles and establishing mutual expectations. Identify emerging issues
and trends affecting public education and their direct impact on the board/superintendent
relations.

Module 2 Students will identify and understand working effectively with board members
in varied contexts, including problem-solving and decision-making contexts. Learn how to
identify, understand and manage internal and external conflicts on the school board

Module 3 Students will identify the strategic planning process, including development of
mission and vision statements, and the various roles of school board members in the
process; and develop a strategic plan for their district.

Module 4 Students will identify and analyze to political, economic, and social factors
affecting students and education, and the board superintendent relationship.

Final Project - Capstone module for the entire course. Superintendent candidates will be
able to apply learning objectives and knowledge gleaned in course activities, writings,
discussions and readings to articulate, develop and propose new school policies to school
board members. Students will present this in an electronic format. i.e. PowerPoint.
The final project will require meeting and working with your site supervisor
(Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent) several times throughout the semester,
be sure to plan accordingly.

Grading

8 - Assignments 25 points each 200 Points

6 - Discussions 10 points each 60 Points

Final Project 100 Points

Total Points Possible 360 Points

324 - 390 A
288 - 323 B
252 - 287 C

Internships

Each superintendent certification course has field experiences built into the
assignments. Please have your superintendent complete the Immediate Supervisors
Acceptance Form (you will need Adobe Reader) and either mail or fax to:

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Attention: Dr. Jessica Garrett
4901 E. University
Odessa, TX 79762
Fax: 432.552.2125

One copy of this form is required to be on file for the program.

Technical Requirements

This course is designed as a web-based class, which necessitates specific computer

expertise on the part of the student, specific computer equipment or programs, and a
commitment on the part of the student beyond that of most other courses. Students
must meet specific course prerequisites designed to help ensure student success in this
course.

Computer Setup
Since your entire course will be accessed through your computer and Internet
connection, it is important that you have the proper computer configuration. Check
your system at UTPB REACH Technical Information - Computer Set-Up
 Microsoft Word is the recommended word processor application for completing
assignments. Documents prepared in other word processor applications must be
submitted in rich text files (.rtf) in order for the instructor to be able to view them.
Because you are taking this course from UT Permian Basin, you can get this software
at a significant discount. For more information, please see IRD's Microsoft Select.

Technical Support

The support staff at the 24/7 Help Desk can help you with any technical questions you
may have, anytime. Technical support is available 24 hours a day - 7 days a week.

Telephone:
1-877-633-9152 (toll-free)

You may access technical assistance at any point in the course by selecting the 24/7
Help Desk button to your left.