2. Assist both higher education and district school leadership programs
in effectively implementing the State Board of Education’s Learning
Centered Leadership Policy by creating a pool of shared resources
(e.g., a common curriculum, online professional development
tools, and a list of top instructors on specific topics who are willing
to teach across the state) and providing opportunities for school
leadership programs from across the state to share best practices
with one another.
3. Work with the State Board of Education to create a report card for
school leadership programs similar to the one the State Board of
Education currently has for teacher preparation programs. Include
metrics such as how many graduates from each program actually
become administrators, the distribution of TVAAS scores of
schools led by graduates from each program, and superintendents’
and principals’ satisfaction with each program. Ensure this report
card is distributed widely.
4. Partner with the Tennessee Department of Education to recruit,
select, and train an adequate number of expert evaluators to
implement the school leadership program approval process in a
way that is consistent with the State Board of Education’s Learning
Centered Leadership policy and that encourages programs to set
high standards and undertake continuous improvement.
5. Enhance and expand the Prospective Superintendents Academy
currently run by the Tennessee School Boards Association, Tennessee
Organization of School Superintendents, and Niswonger Foundation.
6. Support the recently launched new superintendent mentorship
program run by the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents
and the Association of Independent and Municipal School Districts.
7. Create a statewide principal evaluation tool that is user friendly
and that districts can use to create performance contracts between
superintendents and principals.
8. Work with the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents,
Tennessee Department of Education, Association of Independent
and Municipal School Districts, and Tennessee School Boards
Association to create several examples of tools for evaluating
superintendents.
9. Work with the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents
and the Tennessee Department of Education to ensure existing
professional development opportunities for superintendents are
sufficiently focused on increasing student achievement rather than
operational issues. For example, ensure superintendents in districts
with high achievement gains have the opportunity to share best
practices with their colleagues and that all superintendents receive
professional development around how to effectively conduct
principal evaluations and connect them to performance contracts.
10. Work with the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents and
the Tennessee Principals Association to enhance online professional
development opportunities for superintendents and principals.
11. Expand and strengthen both online and in-person professional
development opportunities for school board members in
partnership with the Tennessee School Boards Association.