Dancing on the Skillet: Ten Truths About Being a School Superintendent

The superintendent position is important to the overall quality of a school system. Staff would have difficulty succeeding without the support of an effective and efficient system. It is also potentially rewarding. There is great satisfaction in knowing that something you did had a major impact on the quality of education provided to children. You can change the future, but it comes at a cost. The superintendent position is difficult. In addition to all of the technical skills and knowledge required, doing this job well requires strength of character, mental toughness, and a high level of self-awareness. You must know who you are and what you believe in. Not only that, you must have the fortitude to represent those beliefs in the face of crises and adversity. These are not the topics taught in most graduate school education coursework. Through sharing of “ten truths” the author fills this void. More specifically, readers will learn the realities of being a school superintendent and practical suggestions for navigating the difficulties inherent in the role.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Foreword Preface Truth One: The Expectations Others Place Upon You are Unrealistic Truth Two: Change Leadership is Necessary, but it is Dangerous Business Truth Three: In General, Teachers are a Difficult Group to Lead Truth Four: There is No Such Thing as the “Community” Truth Five: Your “Boss” is Not Qualified to do Their Job Truth Six: You Cannot Defeat an Evil, Exploitive Board Majority Truth Seven: There is a Strong Chance Your Tenure Will Not Last Forever Truth Eight: It is Lonely at the Top Truth Nine: The Media Does Not Sell the Truth, They Sell Newspapers Truth Ten: You Can Make a Difference Bonus Truths References About the Author

About the Author :
Dr. Jennings is a twenty-seven-year veteran in the field of education. In addition to his work as a professor and consultant, he has served as a classroom teacher, supervisor, director, assistant superintendent, and superintendent of schools.

Review :
"Dancing on the Skillet: Ten Truths about Being a School Superintendent" is an easy-to-read book and would be appropriate for an aspiring superintendent program or an educational leadership graduate class geared toward candidates considering the superintendency. There are times when I was reading this book that I thought Dr. Jennings was writing about my experiences as a school superintendent and building administrator for over 20 years, and not his own. Superintendents ascend the ranks in education to champion for students. What they don’t tell you in graduate school is that the job is akin to a boxing ring. Ding. Ding. In one corner is the superintendent wearing the green “Student” shirt and in the other corner is the entire system, wearing red, gloves up -ready for a fight. You are all alone in your corner. There’s always someone waiting to jump in the ring to be your opponent, except you must remain. It should be simple, right? Who doesn’t want to put students first? You’ll see the competing interests after reading Dancing on the Skillet. Dr. Jennings provides a deep dive into the inner workings and the challenges of being a school superintendent in the 21st Century, in an honest manner, unlike anything I have read before. As someone who has spent significant time in the chief school administrators seat, Dr. Jennings has provided an eyes wide open look at the immense challenges of being a school superintendent in the age of increased accountability, social media, and capped budgets. But with all of the pitfalls and struggles of the position, he makes clear the message: If you persevere, you can and will make a meaningful difference as a school leader.