2. PREMISE
BC is one of the highest performing jurisdictions in the world
District Leadership plays an important role in school success
There is no clear job description for the Superintendent position
– each Board is completely autonomous in their hiring
So, just what occupies the time of British Columbia
Superintendents?
3. VIRGINIA STUDY
Erica Armbruster did a 2011 study as part of his doctorate for
Virginia Commonwealth University
“How Virginia’s Public School Superintendents Spend Their Time”
Survey and follow-up interviews
4. MY PLAN
Take the Armbruster Study and replicate it for British Columbia
Contextualize it for the British Columbian and Canadian context
Update the survey to include areas, like technology and
communications which have changed and grown in importance
in the last 10 years since the Virginia study
5. WHY DOES THIS
MATTER?
It is important for the people in the role to better understanding
the similarities and differences across the province
For Boards and the Ministry to better understand the work of
superintendents to guide support and professional development
To consider issues of superintendent’s gender, experience,
district size, and urban / rural in defining the work of the
superintendent
There is regular turnover in the position, and it is in the system’s
best interest to better understand this crucial position
6. MY PERSONAL
INTEREST
I have done this job for 10 years
There is little oversight or feedback, and a limited job description
The job seems to be what one makes of it
There seem to be multiple ways to do it “right”
I am curious about what is in commong
7. LIMITATIONS
Voluntary
There are 59 other (busy) superintendents – would like to get
most of them to participate
It is a political position so anonymity will be important
8. FINAL THOUGHTS
Trying not to take on too much
Initially had wanted to link how superintendents spend their time
to student success – too complicated as “student success” is hard
to determine
Keep the premise simple – what do BC superintendents do?