This document discusses ethical decision making for school superintendents. It presents four types of "right vs right" ethical dilemmas that superintendents may face: truth vs loyalty, individual vs community, short-term vs long-term, and justice vs mercy. It also discusses three principles for decision making in these situations: ends-based, rules-based, and care-based. The document provides examples of ethical dilemmas superintendents could discuss and gives "maxims of ethical leadership" to guide decisions.

1. How Good People Make Tough
Choices
“Moral Rudders and Superintendent Values”

2. “The ultimate measure of a man is not
where he stands in moments of comfort
and convenience, but where he stands
at times of challenge and controversy.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

3. What should superintendent’s do?
While the issues vary, the core challenge is
the same—a tough ethical decision, where
values are in play and both sides have
powerful moral arguments in their favor.

4. Core Values that Anchor Your Decisions
 What are your core values that anchor your
decisions as a leader?
Arlene Ackerman: “No one ever said that
being a leader would be easy. To know the
right thing is far easier than to act on it.”

5. Ethics is Ethics!
John Porter: “The most important ability of a
school superintendent is to be able to separate, in
terms of ethics, one’s personal preferences from the
organizational objectives. Ethics does not come in
two parts—a professional part and a private part.
What you do privately has got to be able to stand the
test publicly.”
What does this mean to you?

6. Ethical Dilemmas/Issues
 Right v. Wrong--to select an option that one
clearly knows is wrong reflects on one’s
lack of ethical clarity and moral courage
 Right v. Right--clear moral authority for
each option but the two are mutually
exclusive

7. Right v. Right Dilemma Paradigms
(four types)
 Truth v. loyalty
 Individual v. community
 Short-term v. long-term
 Justice v. mercy

8.  Truth v. loyalty--where issues of personal
honestly or integrity come in conflict with
responsibility, allegiance and promise-keeping
 Individual v. community--in which the interests
of the individual are lined up against those of a
larger entity
 Short-term v. long-term--where the real and
important concerns of the present are pitted
against foresight and investment for the future
 Justice v. mercy--in which fairness and an equal
application of the rules appear to be at odds with
the demands of empathy and compassion

9. Decision Making Principles
 Ends-based--the greatest good for the greatest
number
 Rules-based--seeks to identify and apply a
universal standard that, if obeyed, would make
the world the kind of place we all want to live in
 Care-based--derives from the concept of the
“Golden Rule”; it is a principle of reciprocity, best
seen by imagining a reversal of roles with others

10. Assignment: Your Scenarios
(right v. right)Describe the background or
context for scenario
Clarify how the scenario “fit” one
the dilemma types
Describe your decision-making
process for handling the dilemma
Which resolution principle did you
use?
What did you learn from this
scenario?
With group at your table, each
share a scenario involving a
different dilemma.
Following discussion, as time
permits, a few will be shared with
entire group.
Dilemmas:
Individual v. Community
Truth v. Loyalty
Short Term v. Long Term
Justice v. Mercy
Resolution Principles:
Ends-based
Rule-based
Care-based

11. “Maxims of Ethical Leadership” (Sharratt)
1. You are what you do.
2. The means are the ends.
3. Consistency is important.
4. Promises are the lifeblood of integrity.
5. All accountability starts with personal accountability.
6. Effective decision-making requires deliberation.
7. Competence and trust must be developed.
8. The truth matters.
9. Getting it right means listening well to others.
10. Humility is essential for ethical leadership.