Leonard D. Fitts is currently the interim superintendent for Glassboro Public Schools in Glassboro, New Jersey.
Myths surrounding the interim superintendent often cloud the realities of the job, which has relevance for school districts preparing for new permanent leadership.
The interim is often tasked with leading a district through tough decisions that impact district direction. It is an often-repeated myth that, although interim school superintendents sit in a superintendent's chair, they usually don't act or behave like school superintendents. The typical interim school superintendent, goes the myth, has a quiet year or so of minding the store until a new superintendent arrives. Interim school superintendents often lack the prestige, power and time to accomplish much. They act as "caretakers" to maintain business as usual.
The reality is that the primary purpose of employing an interim school superintendent is to maintain a smooth transition to a new, permanent superintendent. The interim often acts as a breakwater between any turbulence that might have been the consequence of previous administration difficulties and the future permanent administration. Often, an interim superintendent is able to implement changes much more easily than a person currently employed in the district.
Interim school superintendents have proven their usefulness in a variety of settings and assignments in New Jersey as well as Illinois. With 868 public school districts in Illinois, superintendents are responsible for approximately 2,112,805 students attending 4,262 public schools. Eleven interim school superintendents started the 2008-09 school year in Illinois.
Illinois boards of education are fully aware of how difficult it is to find school superintendents to lead the districts. In being deliberate about the process, they turn to interims to provide a bridge of leadership. But that doesn't mean the job just fills space.
Interim assignments have included:
What they can do
Interim school superintendent are not new, but they are a rare breed of individuals. The necessity for school districts to employ interims has been driven by a number of factors:
"The shortage of superintendents is a problem nationwide," Barry Erek, a former superintendent and the interim executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, told The New York Times in September 2007.
Interims are a group poised to assist a district for change and growth. They can deliver real results in a wide variety of scenarios because of their wealth of experience.
Interims have the ability to listen attentively and assimilate information from various constituents: teachers, administrators, parents, citizens and others. I've often found them to be charming, witty and lighthearted, with the charisma to earn the respect of the board of education and central office staff quickly. Above all, they have the courage to identify the targets, both primary and secondary. They focus on setting and establishing the priorities.
Districts can improve their competitiveness by turning to an interim who can deliver rapid strategic and tactical solutions in a district while maintaining cost effectiveness.
They accept responsibility and accountability for an issue until it has been completely addressed.
They are most effective for managing school districts in turbulent times.
At the conclusion of the contract period, interims prepare for a quick, controlled transition. They provide data and information for the arriving superintendent and quietly remove the desk sign "Interim."
What the future holds
The issues in schools today are much more serious, delicate, complex, challenging and extremely time sensitive.
The nature of our schools has changed dramatically in the last decade. In response to "No Child Left Behind," technology, violence in the schools, reduced budgets and gaps in student achievement, school districts can no longer mark time with "business as usual" waiting to choose a new superintendent.
This period of time demands proven practitioners with specific hands-on experience and a successful track record to address the issues confronting school districts. Interim school superintendents provide access to mature and experienced problem solvers with a track record of success in their profession.
They can make things happen.