Succession Planning: A Framework and Guidelines for School Leaders

Succession planning is a concept not well known nor used in education. Businesses, non-profit entities, medical organizations, and the military have used many of the concepts for decades with varying degrees of success. A framework and practical guidelines are provided for anyone with hiring authority or interest in leadership development in educational organizations. The identification of future talent, the targeted and specific development and mentoring, and the retention of the most promising employees comprise the three major components to a quality plan. Most importantly, the unique organizational culture must be considered across every phase. A lack of planning can be costly and detrimental to performance, which in an educational setting equates to lower student achievement. A quality succession plan can be used to foster engagement from all levels of stakeholders and ensure qualified individuals are prepared to assume positions of greater authority at every level of the organization. There is no universal answer, no one-size-fits-all approach; however, with strategic initiatives and the proper support from senior leaders, a leadership pipeline can be established in any educational organization, not just for the present, but for future needs.