Contact: Gail Short205-934-8931/[email protected]
In his new book, "The Anguish of Leadership," University of Alabama at Birmingham associate professor Jerry L. Patterson, Ph.D., profiles 14 veteran school superintendents around the nation and the problems and challenges they face as school leaders. The book was published by the American Association of School Administrators, (2000).
Patterson interviewed the eight men and six women on how they made the leap to the superintendent's job and how they dealt with tough governance issues such as the erosion of school board support, racial and community conflicts, financial crises, drops in student achievement and declining enrollments.
In addition, the superintendents talk candidly about the toll the job has taken on their families. They also offer words of wisdom for younger school leaders on building positive relationships with school boards and the community, finding mentors, working with unions and dealing with the media.
"As a former superintendent," writes Patterson, "at times I could feel my own emotions involuntarily creeping to the surface as these superintendents recounted their struggles and accomplishments."
Patterson was superintendent of schools for the Appleton, Wis., School District from 1988 to 1995. He also has been an assistant superintendent, an elementary school principal and a high school teacher. He has taught educational leadership in the UAB School of Education since 1996. Patterson is the author of five nationally recognized books and more than two dozen articles in professional journals. -30-
NOTE: We are the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Please use UAB on second reference. We are not to be confused with the University of Alabama, which is a separate and independent campus.
RSS