Superintendent's Message -- April

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE – LIFELONG LEARNING

One of the most important aspects of the job of Superintendent is to help create an environment of lifelong learning.  I firmly believe that all individuals should continue to enhance themselves through some form of learning.  It can be learning to dance, learning to can foods, learning how to change your oil, learning to sew or learning about leadership.  With the idea of continued learning in mind, I have devoted time to what I call, professional reading.

Earlier this year, I shared one of the books in my professional reading closet with all the administrators in our District (Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell).  On a monthly basis throughout the year, we have reviewed many of the concepts of the book and reflected on how these concepts affect our personal and private lives.  Last month, I also gave a copy of the book to the Board of Education.  It is my hope that we will begin to share the concepts that we read about with each other and as a result create an on-going learning environment.  I believe this shared knowledge will help make all of us more knowledgeable and thus better leaders.

To this end, I would like to share a list of my own personal, professional reading with everyone.  I am hopeful that you will not hesitate to make comments and/or share with me as well.  Thanks and happy reading!

Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner

SuperFreakonomics by Steven Leavitt and Stephen Dubner

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

The Greatest Saleman in the World by Og Mandino

The Rural Brain Drain by Patrick J. Barr and Maria J. Kefalas

Genius Denied by Jan and Bob Davidson

The Courage to Teach  by Parker Palmer

The Art of Profiling by Dan Korem

Failure in Not an Option by  Alan Blankstein

The Heart of Change by John P. Cotter

Encouraging the Heart by James Kouzes and Barry Posner

Drive by Daniel Pink

Flip by Daniel Pink

A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink

Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

Mindset: The New Psychology by Carol Dweck

The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki

The Speed of Trust by Stephen MR. Covey

Good to Great by Jim Collins

Servant Leadership by Robert Greenlief

The Honest Truth about Dishonesty by Dan Ariely