Leadership with a spiritual flavor: this superintendent taps into human relations skills to bring out the best in his staff, fuel achievement and control costs.

Leadership with a spiritual flavor: this superintendent taps into human relations skills to bring out the best in his staff, fuel achievement and control costs. Smooth teacher contract negotiations. A productive school board untouched by underlying issues and agendas. A school climate characterized by trust and respect. This edu-nirvana can be found in Port Washington-Saukville, Wis., thanks to Superintendent Michael Weber--who approaches education leadership by infusing tire traditional and the spiritual. Weber's staff development programs are one indication of his unique style, says Miles Turner, executive director of Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators. This fall, there was "Recapture Your Spiritual Energy to be at Peace with Yourself and Others," a session that nearly all of the district's 400 staff, as well as five board members, voluntarily attended. Some might question the spiritual in school, but Weber's focus on open communication, peace and compassion allays occasional concerns, says board president Patty Ruth. "To be an effective leader, you need to know about people," says Weber, who has immersed himself in a broad range programs during his career. Since 1983, Weber has been on a quest to understand people, relationships and attitudes. He's read some 800 books on the topics and authored his own, as well as launched a human relations human relationsnpl → relaciones fpl humanasconsulting and counseling service. It all feeds into his "day job" and his mission to improve students' lives. "Administrators don't make the district. Teachers do," Weber says. "If I can help staff members become stronger, I can help every single child." One of his personal efforts to help is a monthly "Lighten Up" focus group. Interested teachers, staff members or parents get a district-provided copy of Weber's book selection. A memorable one: Wayne Dyer's Wisdom of the Ages (HarperCollins, 1998), which revives lessons from Buddha, Mother Teresa, Emerson and other "teachers." The leader's "How to Deal with Difficult People" workshop offers practical advice on keeping negativity at bay. Humor, one tool used in that task, is weaved through all of his programs. "It can cut the tension in the room instantly," says Weber. A Dash of Time Management Managing a six-school district while also personally teaching staff development programs is a massive undertaking. Weber also runs the counseling and consulting business that he and his wife established in 1990. It is essentially a non-profit organization A non-profit organization (abbreviated "NPO", also "non-profit" or "not-for-profit") is a legally constituted organization whose primary objective is to support or to actively engage in activities of public or private interest without any commercial or monetary profit purposes. whose slogan--"Take a break, you deserve it!"--is ironic since Weber himself wears so many hats. "I could cut myself in half and still not cover everything," he admits. "Consequently, I'm very structured with my time." One night a week is reserved for family. One week each July, he's off to a cabin retreat to plan programs. On weekends, he rises at 5:45 a.m. for reading and research. As for sleep, he gets five or six "solid hours" a night. In iris waking hours, Weber has been quite effective. Deb Dassow, a high school teacher and the chief union negotiator, says the trust among teachers, administration and the board helped negotiate a new health plan with an increase of just 4 percent. Neighboring districts are averaging 35 percent health care hikes. Meanwhile, student performance has edged upward since Weber came on board. ACT scores have risen by nearly one-quarter, graduation rates have climbed and dropouts and habitual truancy have fallen. Overall, says Ruth, Weber has changed the district's climate. "Students are more respectful and people recognize that this is a good place to be." DA Lisa Fratt is a freelance writer based in Ashland, Wis. Michael Weber Michael Weber (born March 17th 1966 in Melbourne Australia died January 2nd 1999) was the lead guitarist of The Seminal Rats from 1984 until his death from an accidental heroin overdose. , Superintendent Port Washington-Saukville (Wis.) School District Age: After referring to Deepak Chopra's maxim, "How did would you be if you didn't know how old you were," Weber admits to being 55 Salary: $124,665 Tenure: 4 years Favorite Book: There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem by Wayne Dyer (Quill quill:see pen. , 2003). "I use it as a desk reference when I get into a dilemma. It helps me stay focused on the real issue--helping kids." Role models: The Dalai Lama Dalai Lama(dä`lī lä`mə)[Tibetan,=oceanic teacher], title of the leader of Tibetan Buddhism. Believed like his predecessors to be the incarnation of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, 1935–, , Desmond Tutu Noun 1. Desmond Tutu - South African prelate and leader of the antiapartheid struggle (born in 1931)Tutu , Colin Powell Noun 1. Colin Powell - United States general who was the first African American to serve as chief of staff; later served as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush (born 1937)Colin luther Powell, Powell , Mahatma mahatma(məhăt`mə, –hät`–)[Sanskrit,=great-souled], honorific title used in India among Hindus for a person of superior holiness. Mohandas Gandhi is the best-known figure to whom the title was applied. Gandhi, Deepak Chopra Deepak Chopra (Hindi: दीपक चोपड़ा; born October 22, 1946) is an Indian medical doctor and writer. He has written extensively on spirituality and diverse topics in mind-body medicine. , John Maxwell John Maxwell may refer to: John Maxwell (archbishop) (d. 1647), Scottish prelate, Archbishop of Tuam, Bishop of Ross Sir John Maxwell (general) (died 1929), British general Hobbies: Reading, research and public speaking District Profile Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population.