Perception is essentially a subjective point of view. One’s perception can be affected by one’s experience. For example, if one goes to a casino for the first time and plays a slot machine and wins easily, then one may believe that a slot machine is a source of easy money. Based on this belief, if one goes to a casino for the second time and plays a slot machine and loses quickly, then one’s belief is likely to change that a slot machine is not a source of easy money.
Although gambling and educational leadership may not be related, how staff, parents, students, and citizens perceive the relationship between the school board president and superintendent may cause them to form a belief about that relationship.
What might the staff, parents, students, and citizens believe about the relationship between the school board president and superintendent in your district? It is important that the board president and superintendent be aware of how the district’s stakeholders perceive their interaction, especially at the board table. Here are some aspects of their interaction to consider.
Does the school board president and superintendent practice unity? Being united means no open contradictions. For example, the superintendent submits a proposal for board action. After due diligence, the board votes on the proposal. If it passes, does the board president seek the support of those board members who voted against it? If it fails, does the superintendent support the board’s decision? In other words, are the board president and superintendent united in accepting board action?
Does the school board president and superintendent help stakeholders understand each other’s point of view? Does the board president inform board members what the superintendent was thinking prior to their consideration of a proposal? If asked, does the board president clarify for board members or citizens the superintendent’s position on an issue? In the same way, if asked, does the superintendent clarify for staff, parents, or students the board president’s position or public statement?
Are the school board president and superintendent tactful? Are they aware of how things are said either at the board table or in the community? Are they sarcastic? Express inside jokes? Take good natured jabs at each other? These questionable behaviors may be humorous in a private setting, but in a public setting they have the potential to affect how the stakeholders perceive the relationship between the board president and superintendent. Given the tactless behaviors noted, will that perception be positive or negative?
If the school board president or superintendent believe that one or the other has acted improperly, which may affect how the stakeholders perceive their relationship, then they should address the matter privately. If it persists, then the entire board should become involved in a formal process to address the matter.
