Heath Morrison’s Blog
The Art of The Deal with Superintendent Contracts
New superintendents experience many “firsts" when they start their new role. More often than not, the negotiation of their own personal contract is one of those opportunities. If they have followed a traditional path of teacher, principal, and central office leader,...
Strategic School District Communication – An Ongoing “Campaign”
An effective superintendent understands that clear, consistent communication is key to paving a pathway to success for everyone in the organization. Engaging district leaders in two-way communication provides valuable, actionable feedback and supports an environment...
The Importance of Evaluating Candidates for School Boards
For a long time, local school board elections generated little interest and often few candidates. This mirrored the reality that, usually, school board meetings and the service associated with the office were perceived to be not overly exciting or controversial....
Leading Legislative Efforts in Your State
Having led some of the largest school districts in two different states, it's expected that the superintendent remains engaged in local, state and federal policy matters. This background proved incredibly valuable as I served as the Executive Vice President of...
Saying Goodbye to a Very Challenging School Year
A few months ago, I spoke at a national superintendent’s conference. While it is normal for school district leaders to share challenges among themselves as a way to relieve the immense pressures of the job, there was something distinctly different about these...
Texas school districts challenged to meet the population boom
Over the last few years, suburban areas across the state of Texas have grown at record paces with the arrival of new residents moving into the Lone Star State. As a result, school districts in communities outside of major metropolitan areas like Houston, Dallas, and...
Selecting Your Next Leader in Education
A skill that effective leaders take pride in possessing is the ability to identify other great leaders and recruit them to their organization. While the processes – and requirements - for recruiting, identifying and selecting individuals to serve in leadership roles...
The Importance Of Investing In Your People
When I first served as a superintendent, I would hear lots of advice from leaders in the private sector to “run my school district like a business.” I imagined that meant more focus on results, less silos and more cross-functionality. Subsequently, having spent time...
Ensuring a successful entry as an incoming Superintendent
New Superintendents Need A Thoughtful Plan of Entry One of the first items that new superintendents must learn is the importance of proactive communications and active listening. As a superintendent, you are the “communicator in chief,” which more than likely will be...
Leadership Skills Every Educator Should Have
Anyone who has worked within a leadership role will likely agree that their skills will help set the standard for the team and organization as a whole.