Featured Articles | District Management Council

Succession Planning for Results-based Leadership

Planning for leadership succession can provide increased continuity of strategic focus and enable your organization to avoid unnecessary turbulence during times of leadership transition. In these fiscally uncertain times, loss of district productivity due to problems in leadership turnover can be especially problematic. Districts need planning tools and development processes to maximize existing talent and cultivate the necessary leadership skills to grow student achievement and build the overall performance capacity of the organization.

The District Management Journal: Spring 2010

Culture transformation. Leadership development. Innovative partnerships. These themes and more are tackled in the Spring 2010 edition of the District Management Journal. Through case studies, feature articles, interviews, DMC focuses on examples of district leaders, foundation, and business partners who are engaging in bold initiatives to align strategy, strengthen management capacity, and foster collaboration to achieve tremendous results. The issue includes an extensive set of work on the topic of Pay-for-Performance -strategies, structures, and funding options for school districts considering the design and implementation of a program.

Download the full issue for more ideas on the power of leadership and management.

Baltimore County Public Schools: Using Innovative Public-Private Partnerships to Accelerate Change

JAH_preferred_12_08_adj During a regular breakfast meeting with industry leaders, Dr. Joe Hairston, Superintendent of the 104,000-student Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), had a “light bulb” moment. With leaders from Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Johns Hopkins University, University of Baltimore, Breakaway Games, and TrainingPort Strategies at the table, Hairston brainstormed about forming an innovative partnership to align the goals of industry with the goals of the district to boost STEM – science, technology, engineering and math education – in the Baltimore County Public Schools.

Aurora Public Schools: Building a Culture of Trust

Failure is not an option and hope is not a strategy. When discussing our work in Aurora Public Schools (CO) I often use these words first coined by Gene Krantz, the NASA Apollo 13 Mission Director. Every day parents not only entrust us with their children, they assume that we are doing everything possible to ensure their children’s success. It is our duty to meet these expectations. To do this in Aurora Public Schools (APS), we had to transform our school district.

Partnership and Capacity Building: An Interview with Bob Corcoran and Kelli Wells of GE Foundation

GE Foundation: Developing Futures in Education In 2005, GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the General Electric Company, launched the Developing Futures in Education program, to which it has committed more than $150 million to drive reform at six U.S. school districts. While the objective is to prepare students for college and for careers in math and science, this program is unique in its approach. The program focuses on growing school district management capacity through a vibrant partnership between the districts and GE’s corporate and divisional managers. GE managers bring to bear their expertise in core areas such as personnel management, resource allocation, collaboration, and technology to accelerate change and scale up innovations. Districts have experienced impressive successes, from implementing new math and science curricula to enhancing professional development programs. In this edited interview with Bob Corcoran, President and Chairman of GE Foundation, and Kelli Wells, Director of U.S. Education Programs of GE Foundation, DMC's John J-H Kim discusses Developing Futures, and GE's innovative approach to working with these districts.

Innovating Education: An Interview with James H. Shelton III

Written by John Kim

In this edited interview with DMC’s CEO John J-H Kim, James H. Shelton, assistant deputy secretary for innovation and improvement at the U.S. Department of Education, discusses his new role, and his vision for innovation and improvement in the American school system. Shelton manages a portfolio that includes most of the Department's competitive teacher quality, school choice, and learning technology programs. He is also involved in the development of and grant process for the $4.35 billion Race to the Top Fund, and the $650 million Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund.

Cultivating Leadership: An Interview with Ray Cortines

Written by District Management Council The

In this edited interview with DMC’s Dr. Joseph Scherer, Mr. Ray Cortines, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School Districft (LAUSD) reflects on his career, and shares his thoughts on mentoring, teamwork, and the importance of cultivating leadership. Here is an opportunity to learn from his experiences on mentoring and its importance, the qualities that he looks for in a potential leader and the management skills needed to run a school district.

Delivering Results, Developing Leaders

Leadership development comes from tackling a performance challenge, often outside your comfort zone. DMC believes that leaders are born from running initiatives that focus on delivering performance-driven results. School district leaders should consider this management style to help tie professional development to performance results.

Managing in Times of Fiscal Uncertainty: An Interview with Tom Payzant

Written by Joseph Scherer

In this edited interview with DMC's Dr. Joseph Scherer, Dr. Tom Payzant reflects on his superintendency, managing through good times and bad, and offers his insights about dealing with this current fiscal crisis. Payzant calls for a focus on the district's core mission and work, urging school leaders to communicate a sense of optimism and to focus on delivering results for students.

A Win-Win Approach to Reducing Special Education Costs

Written by Nate Levenson

Tough times demand districts increase the cost-effectiveness of special ed. Here's how...

Special education costs are rising rapidly, and the number of students with severe special needs such as autism and emotional/behavioral issues is rising even faster. Here’s the good news: This article contains a 10-Step process with more than 75 specific strategies that will enable you to balance the budget and improve student outcomes.