Since Joshua Starr arrived in Stamford (Conn.) as the new superintendent, education conversations have been productive and pro-active, he writes in the School Administrator. He sees his role as more of a teacher than a dictator, focusing on asking the right questions that will inspire others to seek the appropriate solutions.

Starr has accomplished this by holding monthly community forums and neighborhood chats with parents. As the superintendent, Starr knows he has the mandate to impose his will, yet he has shied away from doing so. He believes that if a group is engaged and asking the right questions about the issues they face, then they will find the right answers collectively (hey, it worked for Socrates, well for a little while at least).

This approach can be truly rewarding because over time, it builds collective will and capacity and challenges people to learn and grow together. While superintendents come and go, communities have traditions, cultures and histories that can evolve and strengthen, but at the same time resist radical change. To transform the practices in Stamford, Starr knows he must engage all aspects of a school.

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