The most important skill a Superintendent can possess is the ability to take a broad view of issues. You have to be aware that everyone has a personal view of the issues and that there are always things going on behind the scene. You have to approach these individuals in different ways. You have to listen to them, but always keep both local and legal policy at the forefront. This ability is not automatic but something that is developed as you gain experience on the job.
The most difficult experience as a Superintendent was Hurricane Rita. Everyone was operating on a huge learning curve. From communication with employees and the community, to deciding when to bring people back, to compacting the curriculum, and to the $4 million in damages, it was an extremely stressful time. The silver lining was that the lessons learned with the Rita experience made the Hurricane Ike experience much easier.
Dr. Randall’s greatest, short term accomplishment was the passing of the $123 million bond, which was actually postponed for a year due to Hurricane Rita. The district will have two new middle schools that will be completed in the middle of May. Additions to the high school will allow for each grade level to be separated into pods and the athletic complex will be updated with baseball and softball fields, a batting cage, and tennis courts. Her greatest, long term accomplishment has been serving as a successful change agent, bringing change that has been for the greater good for the entire district.
Her vision for the future is to bring better technology and a more cost effective structure to the district. As part of the bond, every middle school student will have laptops, and every elementary classroom will be digital with document cameras, speaker systems and projectors. Future bond plans for the district may include the reconfiguration of the existing elementary campuses in order to reduce the number of campuses in order to save on personnel costs as well as other operating costs
Extra credit question
5 issues faced in your tenure as Superintendent—
School finance
4 x 4 changes, Career and Technology changes
Disaster situations-you can prepare for natural, but there is always a threat at the chemical plants of terrorist acts, explosions, and accidental emissions
Keeping kids in schools and preparing them for the work force
Personnel support-wages, benefits and meeting everyone’s needs
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Funny how the bond issue is the most important accomplishment. Seems that has been hammered at us for a while.
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