In the wake of the resignation of her predecessor and close co-worker Diana Lam , 2002, Melody Johnson, the deputy superintendent of the Providence, Rhode Island, School District, was hurriedly named acting superintendent, in August. Johnson and Lam had been embarked, over the previous three years, on an ambitious reform plan to update the low-performing system. Despite some indexes of advancement, nevertheless, Johnson understood that there remained critical opposition to the changes-as evidenced, in part, by a bitter contract dispute lately settled with the teachers of the system.
This case describes the challenge facing Melody Johnson as she sought to attain rank-and-file support for reform, in the immediate months after her appointment as superintendent in her own right. It focuses on particular measures without endangering reforms including, drastically, a day in which classes would be cancelled so that she and others could address the teaching force as a whole that she considered to attain that support. This public leadership case is intended to highlight the choices and techniques of "adaptive direction", as described in the work of Kennedy School professor Ronald Heifetz, "Leadership Without Easy Answers" (Belknap Press, September 1994). See also case # 1690.0. HKS Case Number 1689.0
PUBLICATION DATE: February 04, 2011 PRODUCT #: HKS580-VID-ENG
This is just an excerpt. This case is about TECHNOLOGY & OPERATIONS
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