Bigger Isn't Always Better

A Leadership Guide for Small School Administrators

By (author) George Murdock

Not available to order

Publication date:

18 January 2012

Length of book:

122 pages

Publisher

R&L Education

ISBN-13: 9781610487221

Bigger Isn't Always Better is designed to provide a practitioner's viewpoint of the challenges and issues lacing school administrators – particularly those who work in small districts. Based upon a combination of education theory and practical applications, the book contains many real life exampleswith tips for landing a job as administrator and then making a positive and successful first impression through a deliberate entry plan. Bigger Isn't Always Better addresses both the technical aspects of an administrator’s assignment, as well as the administrator’s leading, mediating role while working with the school board, with school staff, or the school’s community. Readers will learn about a variety of potential pitfalls and situations that most new administrators face, with the benefit of learning how to over come and avoid such problems based on the author’s four decades in the profession.
The roles and responsibilities of small school administrators vary greatly from those of administrators in larger systems. While larger systems have specialized leaders for each area of school administration, small school administrators often have only the face they see in the mirror each morning to guide them through the day’s events. “Bigger Isn’t Always Better: A Leadership Guide for Small School Administrators” will serve as a favorite resource book for any administrator and as an essential survival guide for administrators in smaller systems.

Isolation is a frequent challenge for small school administrators. George Murdock has long served as an instructor and mentor for school leaders through Eastern Washington and Oregon. His guide allows his collective wisdom from years in administration to be passed along in a format that reads much like a mentor’s treasured advice. Murdock presents his information with a mix of research, story-telling and quick tips to allow readers to prepare for, reflect upon, and refine practices in a plethora of areas.

Murdock’s varied experiences are evident in this book. It is rare to find an all-encompassing leadership guide; yet, the book covers small-town administration topics thoroughly. The book begins just as an administrative career begins, with application pointers and interviewing advice. Once one has secured the position, Murdock leads the young administrator through the crucial elements of getting to know the staff and assessing the needs of the position. Murdock places heavy emphasis on communication and shares stories of successful communication, and the results of poor communication, to guide the reader through communication plans for use with staff, students, School Boards and the community.

Facilities, fiscal, and human resource management are present in the job descriptions of many small school leaders, yet absent in most school leadership books. Murdock covers these topics in depth with specific examples and useful lessons for each area. Administrators who utilize the guide will not be left to search for resources on the various job responsibilities, instead, the guide supplies them advice on virtually every topic a new administrator will face in the first few years of the job.

Small-schools will continue to thrive in the United States and many educational leaders will enjoy their start, or their entire career, in small schools. “Bigger Isn’t Always Better: A Leadership Guide for Small School Administrators” will serve as an invaluable resource to help leaders understand the hidden social rules of small-school leadership as well as the basic mechanics of success in administrative positions. The book is short on theory and long in practical advice- exactly what new administrators seek as they enter their careers. Murdock’s work will be a welcome resource to any small-school administrator.