September 30, 2013
MEMORANDUM
TO: Principals
FROM : Pamela R. Shetley, Ed.D., Acting Director
Department of Human Capital Management
RE: School Leadership Skills and Characteristics Community Input
Background: Last year, Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) adopted a new Board Policy, Administrative Procedure Number 4113, “to ensure that the community, including staff, parents, community groups and high school students (for high school principals) are involved and participate in the principal selection process.” (Enclosure 1) In an effort to gain knowledge on how to better service school communities, we are continuing this effort of collecting input from school communities. PGCPS would like to get your input on a community questionnaire, “School Leadership Skills and Characteristics Community Input.” The purpose of this questionnaire is to gather your best thinking. In essence, what do you think are the strongest attributes and necessary skills a principal of this unique school community should possess? This will in turn help us develop a leadership profile for your school.
Click here to see a copy of the Community Questionnaire in English.
Click here to see a copy of the Community Questionnaire in Spanish
Though we do not anticipate, at this point of time, staffing changes in school-based leadership positions, we are conducting a county-wide survey in order to utilize community input regarding leadership preferences. In instances where there may be leadership changes, the data collected will serve as data points in identifying principal candidates who are most suited to meet the needs of that school community. In instances where there may not be leadership changes, the data collected will serve as data points that can help current leadership cultivate a school culture and learning community reflective of articulated need.
How to Administer the Questionnaire: Questionnaire participation is very important to ensure accurate and useful data. Enclosed, please find the following items to assist you in your questionnaire administration.
1. a staff/community letter in English and Spanish that will need to be forwarded to your staff, community and students (high school students only). The attached letter contains the Internet links to access the input survey for your respective schools;
2. talking points for your use; and
3. a Question and Answer sheet that can accompany the questionnaire
To expedite the input process, many schools have decided to post the questionnaire on their home page and then send out a robo call to the entire school community announcing that the letter, survey links, and Q and A can be accessed from their school's website. Some schools are directly emailing the letter, as well - and using PTA and student leaders to assist with distribution. Please note, if community members opt to send letters or emails, instead of completing the questionnaire, please forward the information to .
We are excited about having 100% community involvement in this information gathering process, and look forward to your assistance. We are asking all schools to have questionnaires completed by 11:00 a.m. on May 3, 2013. Thank you in advance for your participation. Please forward all inquiries to Dr. Pamela Shetley at or at 301-780-6876.
Enclosures
c: Dr. Kevin Maxwell Associate Superintendents Instructional Directors
Mr. Douglas Anthony Ms. Sharon Hodges Ms. Barbara Pometto
Enclosure 1
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
4113
Procedure No.
November 15, 2010
Date
I. PURPOSE: To provide administrative procedures for the principal selection process for Prince George’s County Public Schools.
II. POLICY: To ensure that the community, including staff, parents, community groups and high school students (for high school principals) are involved and participate in the principal selection process (Board Policy 4113).
III. BACKGROUND: The Prince George’s County Public Schools encourages parental and community interaction with local schools and recognizes the principal as the corporate head of the local school and primary link between the community and the school system. Thus, Prince George's County Public Schools ensures involvement of community groups, parents, staff and high school students (for high school principals) in principal selection through its Administrative Procedure governing this process.
IV. PROCEDURES: To ensure that community members, parents, and students are involved in the process for selecting the school principal, the following procedures must be followed:
A. All schools will participate in developing a Leadership Profile in the event the Superintendent declares a principal vacancy.
B. Information about the leadership needs of the school is collected from the community and school staff, using the School Leadership Skills and Characteristics form and existing school climate surveys.
C. The Superintendent or Superintendent’s Designee notifies, in writing, the school’s professional, student, and parent leadership organizations of the vacancy.
D. The Human Resources Office advertises the vacancy.
E. Under the direction of Human Resources, a meeting is scheduled with the community and school staff to develop a principal leadership profile and explain the principal selection process. A representative from the Area Office, Office of School Leadership, Comer Development, and/or School Improvement Office will be in attendance at this meeting.
F. A representative from the Human Resources Office will conduct the initial applicant prescreening and develop a list of candidates eligible to participate in the Principal Leadership Exercise.
G. Eligible candidates will participate in the Principal Leadership Exercise to further assist the committee in determining each candidate’s skills and abilities.
H. Representatives from the Human Resources Office and Office of School Leadership will develop an eligible candidate pool based on the candidates’ credentials and score obtained on the Principal Leadership Exercise. The list will be forwarded to the Area Assistant Superintendents.
I. Area Assistant Superintendents or Designee will meet to identify school needs and review candidate profiles to determine best school/candidate fit.
J. Each respective Area Office will notify interview panel members consisting of Division Chiefs or Designee of the date, time and place of interviews.
K. Candidates to be interviewed will be selected by the committee based on their profile and the leadership needs identified by the school community and Superintendent.
L. Selected candidates will be interviewed using a structured interview process by a committee consisting of Division Chiefs and/or Designee.
M. Following the interviews of all candidates, the selection committee will provide the Superintendent with a summary document identifying areas of strengths and need for growth for each candidate. The committee will compile a list of recommended candidates for the Superintendent’s consideration.
N. A list of at least three recommended candidates, along with comments supporting the recommendations, shall be forwarded to the Superintendent for further consideration.
O. The Superintendent will make the final selection and is not required to select an individual from the recommended candidates.
P. The name of the candidate selected by the Superintendent will be forwarded to the Board of Education for approval.
Q. The candidate will be notified of his or her selection after approval by the Board of Education.
V. GENERAL PROCEDURE: The Superintendent reserves the right to select a candidate outside the scope of this procedure based on the needs of the school system.
VI. RELATED PROCEDURES: None.
VII. MAINTENANCE AND UPDATE OF THESE PROCEDURES: These procedures originate with the Human Resources Office and will be updated by that office as necessary.
VIII. CANCELLATIONS AND SUPERSEDURES: This Administrative Procedure cancels and supersedes Administrative Procedure 4113, dated April 14, 2010.
IX. EFFECTIVE DATE: November 15, 2010.
Approved by:
William R. Hite
Superintendent of Schools
Attachment: School Leadership Skills and Characteristics Form
Distribution: Lists 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, and 11
Enclosure 2
September 30, 2013
Dear Tulip Grove Elementary School Community, Parents and Staff,
Promotions and leadership changes in our school houses and central offices are a natural part of the reorganization of our school system. Though we do not anticipate, at this point of time, staffing changes in school-based leadership positions, we are conducting a county-wide survey in order to utilize community input regarding leadership preferences. In instances that there may be leadership changes, the data collected will serve as data points in identifying principal candidates who are most suited to meet the needs of that school community. In instances where there may not be leadership changes, the data collected will serve as data points that can help current leadership cultivate a school culture and learning community reflective of articulated need.
PGCPS would like to get your input on a community questionnaire, “School Leadership Skills and Characters Community Input.” The purpose of this questionnaire is to gather your best thinking. In essence, what do you think are the strongest attributes and necessary skills a principal of this unique school community should possess? This will in turn help us develop a leadership profile for your school. This information will inform the overall decision making process for selecting an instructional leader in the event that your current leader changes that match the needs of your school. In instances that there may be leadership changes, the data collected will serve as data points in identifying principal candidates who are most suited to meet the needs of that school community. In instances where there may not be leadership changes, the data collected will serve as data points that can help current leadership cultivate a school culture and learning community reflective of articulated need.
Your principal or his/her designee will work with the Department of Human Capital Management and Area office staff to facilitate the distribution and collection of the questionnaire. A link to Survey Monkey (our data gathering tool) is provided below and available from your principal or his/her designee. Please take 5-10 minutes to complete the questionnaire in order to provide us with your opinion. We are asking that all input be provided by 11:00 a.m. on October 14, 2013. Survey Monkey will not be accessible after this time. Special Note: If you do not have access to a computer, please contact your school’s principal or his/her designee for assistance.
We appreciate your support, insight and flexibility in completing the questionnaire in a timely manner. Please feel free to provide any additional insight and information that you think will be helpful in identifying the characteristics and attributes of leadership in your building. If you have more detailed input, the survey provides an extended area for you to provide any additional comments, thoughts or information. If you would like to include any additional information outside of this survey to be included for consideration, please feel free to email .
We truly appreciate you taking the time to provide us with your thoughts and the Department of Human Capital Management will provide the school principal or his/her designee with a completed School Leadership Profile once the data has been compiled from school community input.
Your immediate attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. Should you have any questions, please contact your school directly.
Thank you,
The Department of Human Capital Management
Survey Links: https://www.research.net/s/tulipgrovees - English
https://www.research.net/s/sptulipgrovees - Spanish
Anyone who requires an auxiliary aide/service for effective communication, or the modification of a procedure/policy in order to complete this survey, please contact the school principal. Requests should be made as soon as possible.
Enclosure 3
30 septiembre 2013
Estimada comunidad, padres y personal de Tulip Grove Elementary,
Las promociones y los cambios de liderazgos en nuestras escuelas y oficinas centrales son una parte natural de la reorganización de nuestro sistema escolar. Aunque no nos anticipamos, ahora mismo, cambios de liderazgos en las escuelas, estamos haciendo un estudio para utilizar las ideas comunitarias con respecto a preferencias del liderazgo. En casos que puede haber cambios del liderazgo, los datos recogidos servirán como puntos de referencias en la identificación de los candidatos principales que son adaptados para cubrir las necesidades de esa comunidad escolar. En los casos donde no puede haber cambios del liderazgo, los datos recogidos servirán como puntos de referencias que puedan ayudar al director actual para cultivar una cultura escolar y comunidad del aprendizaje que refleja esa necesidad articulada.
PGCPS quisiera conseguir sus ideas en un cuestionario de la comunidad, “ideas de la comunidad de las habilidades y de los caracteres del liderazgo de la escuela.” El propósito de este cuestionario es coleccionar sus mejores pensamientos. Esencialmente, ¿cuales son las cualidades más fuertes y las habilidades necesarias que un director de esta escuela comunitaria única debe poseer? Esto nos ayudará a desarrollar un perfil del liderazgo para su escuela. Esta información informará al procedimiento total para seleccionar a un líder educacional, si hay un cambio del líder actual, que emparejen las necesidades de su escuela. En casos que puede haber cambios del liderazgo, los datos recogidos servirán como puntos de referencias en la identificación de los candidatos principales que son adaptados para cubrir las necesidades de esa comunidad escolar. En los casos donde no puede haber cambios del liderazgo, los datos recogidos servirán como puntos de referencias que puedan ayudar al director actual para cultivar una cultura escolar y comunidad del aprendizaje que refleja esa necesidad articulada.
Su director o su persona elegida trabajará con el departamento de "Human Capital Management" y la oficina del área para facilitar la distribución y la colección del cuestionario. Un enlace a "Survey Monkey" (nuestra herramienta para coleccionar datos) está abajo y disponible de su director o su persona elegida. Por favor tome 5-10 minutos para terminar el cuestionario para darnos su opinión. Estamos pidiendo que entregue todos sus ideas antes del 11:00 de la mañana el 14 octubre 2013. "Survey Monkey" no será accesible después de este tiempo. Nota especial: Si usted no tiene acceso a una computadora, por favor póngase en contacto con su director o su persona elegida para ayudarle.
Apreciamos su ayuda, ideas y flexibilidad en la realización del cuestionario a tiempo. Por favor siéntese libre de darnos más pensamientos e información adicional que nos ayudará en la identificación de las características y de las cualidades del liderazgo en su edificio. Si tenga más información detallada, el cuestionario tiene un área extendido para que darnos cualquiera comentario, pensamiento o información adicional. Si quisiera incluir alguna información adicional fuera de este cuestionario para consideración, por favor siéntese libre de enviarla por correo electrónico .