Preparing school administrators for the challenges they will face requires materials well-informed about the nuts and bolts of education in real life. Only a richly detailed case study book like Short and Scribner's will provide them with the opportunity to analyze current issues. Each narrative chapter concludes with application questions and a list of references. The authors, some of the most respected American scholars on the superintendency have compiled cases grounded in research and reality. They explore topics such as the politics of education, the debate over merit pay, women in the superintendency, and the role of the superintendent as an instructor.

Although there are several case study books for administrators, this one book, specifically for superintendents, is framed within the state and national standards. It offers a way for superintendents as well as those in training to combine best-practice theory with practice using everyday, realistic situations. Each chapter includes: _ questions for discussion _ references _ additional resources Readers will also find a corresponding brief literature review and a case study that illustrates the standard being discussed.

The School Superintendent: Theory, Practice, and Cases is the essential guide to succeeding as a superintendent or as an administrator in another district-level position. Comprehensive in both theory and practice, this textbook and reference guide examines the role and responsibilities of school district administration in professional, social, philosophical, and political frames, while balancing perspectives of rewards and challenges commonly expressed by school superintendents. Important topics covered include the emerging role of superintendent as communicator, the changing conditions in districts and schools, inadequate funding for public schools, and the treatment of policy administration, leadership roles, and community involvement. Fully updated, the Third Edition provides: greater emphasis on the challenges facing novice superintendents; new material on strategic planning and visioning; new and expanded coverage of contemporary issues such as inadequate district funding and social challenges; additional figures, tables, key terms, and other helpful learning tools; and more.

This book seeks to contribute to the training of future educational leaders through a number of cases and presenting a series of dilemmas.