By KEVIN FLAHERTY
Morning Sun Staff Writer

Three possible future superintendents are getting their lessons from Pittsburg USD 250 administrators.

Gary Price, USD 250 superintendent, and Matthew Wendt, USD 250 assistant superintendent, are teaching a District Level Licensure class that shows students how to lead from a district's biggest office.

"They're all working for superintendent certification," Price said. "Whether they intend to be or not, I think three of the four could see that on down the road, where we have one who's probably just taking the class."

The three who may look to continue include Mike Martin, St. Mary's Elementary School principal, and two administrators from Coffeyville, Michael Speer and James Elliott.

Chuck Smith, St. Mary's-Colgan High School teacher and football coach, said he was taking the class for hours to re-certify.

"I'm a classroom teacher, and I'll stay in the classroom," Smith said. "I've always been, and someday I'll probably get out of some of the duties I have now and will just be a classroom teacher. But this class helps regardless of what you want to do."

Price said the lessons on leadership applied everywhere.

"The whole series of classes, and this is the last one for some of them, is to help create a leadership philosophy or a leadership style so that they can be more successful as leaders," Price said. "A lot of people think they have all the knowledge that it takes to run an organization whether it's a school or a company or whatever. But getting people to follow you and to get committed to the mission of the organization is something a lot of people have to learn."

The sessions focus on the superintendency, including assistant superintendents and directors, strategic planning, systems theories, prioritization and decision making and cultural issues in schools.

"One of the things that a lot of leaders get in trouble doing is coming in and making decisions too quickly, and we talk to them about it," Price said. "Pretty soon the people that they are impacting aren't following because they are not involving them in the decision making process. That's the problem coming in like a Lone Ranger."

Price said reading material for the class included "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" and "Leadership on the Line."

"A lot of what we talk about is leadership on the line," Price said. "In terms of making decisions, which mountains are you willing to dive off? You have to make decisions all the time, and some of them are worth spending more political capital because they are the right things for kids, and others you learn to be political and make changes more slowly."

Price said the class members all showed an aptitude for leadership at the school district level.

"If you want to have a legacy, you have to make sure that when you make decisions, you have the other people in the boat with you," Price said. "Otherwise, your decisions die when you leave. We're trying to get them to where their decisions stay in play."

The Morning Sun, (www.morningsun.net) July 2, 2006

USD 250 Home Page
General info: Vicki Horton Tech info: Rick Duling
Webmaster: Noah Grotheer Communications Coordinator: Tina Jones
© Pittsburg Public Schools