Interview: Superintendnet/Board member - Nicks

Robert Wilson
Dr. Nicks


I interviewed Dr. Rodney Cavness for the superintendent interview and Mr. Jim Love for the board member interview. I found it interesting that for the most part their answers were the same. The only real difference was the vision aspect of the questioning.

Most important skills for a Superintendent
Having a vision and being able to implement that vision...see it through
Communication skills
Collaboration with the school board
Leadership of principals

Most difficult experience
Learning to deal effectively with the school board. It took almost a year to get everyone on the same page

Greatest accomplishment
Getting all 8 members of the Team of 8 on the same path. In doing so, improving fiscal accountability.
Improving academic focus and success.

Vision of the future
In developing a vision for the district it is the superintendent’s responsibility to organize all stakeholders and develop a vision. Then to communicate that vision and put people and resources in place to realize that vision. You have to know where you are going or you won't know how to get there.
Personally, to strive for success in all areas of the district; academically, athletics, other extracurricular activities, improving instruction, everything.

Most important skills for a board member
Communication of you ideas
The ability to listen

Most difficult experience
Personnel decisions. You are dealing with the lives and livelihoods of people.
Having to judge personnel is very difficult. You just do it and pray it is the right decision.

Greatest accomplishment
No single board member has accomplishments. You work as a team and have failures and accomplishments together. This is a concept lost in most training.
The passage of the bond was huge. To really modernize the science and computer labs was a big accomplishment.

Vision of the future
To have a cohesive, unified board
To implement some fiscal policies