A major fan of Oz, but not a cowardly lion.

The nooks and crannies in the office of Bill McNeal, superintendent in Wake County, N.C., suggest the occupant is one wildly enthusiastic follower of The Wizard of Oz. It's chock full of memorabilia of Dorothy Gale, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion, a carousel of the Emerald City and various books on the subject--most of the items given as gifts from appreciative staff members over the years.

McNeal often uses the Oz analogy, too, when he speaks in public about the importance of the Heart (character), the Brain (intelligence) and the Home in the development of every child.

"The Wizard of Oz is a metaphor for life," the superintendent once told a reporter who was admiring his workplace collection. "You're going to meet some good witches, bad witches and some munchkins."

McNeal clearly has demonstrated a knack for leading all types down the educational byways. As superintendent of the 109,000-student district based in Raleigh, he was honored in February as the 2004 National Superintendent of the Year, an award co-sponsored by ARAMARK ServiceMaster Facility Services and AASA. It was a special feat for someone in only his fourth year in the superintendency.

Yet McNeal's principled and personable approach has been on display for much of his career in education. How else can you explain the way McNeal, while a young assistant middle school principal, fearlessly meted out punishment to the superintendent's son for rough-housing--especially considering the Wake County superintendent at the time was John Murphy, generally viewed as a highly temperamental executive.

McNeal sentenced the youth to a day of weed-pulling on school grounds. When Murphy announced he would be paying a visit to the school a few days later, McNeal braced for the worst, figuring it might be time to clean out his desk. Instead Murphy thanked McNeal for his sensitive handling of the matter, shook his hand and promoted him to a middle school principalship a few months later. It was McNeal's first major step up the career ladder in Wake County, where he's spent the past 30 years.

Murphy, now an administrator with a major condominium developer in Florida, recalls the day. "I thanked him for doing it. It took some courage on his part. He's the kind of person I wanted on my team.... I tried to get him to become my deputy when I took over (as superintendent) in Charlotte," he said.

The product of a segregated high school in Durham, N.C., and the son of a Baptist minister, McNeal has taken particular pains to ensure the 127 schools in Wake County are socioeconomically diverse places because, he said, "I am adamantly opposed to have-not schools." This fall, in a major reassignment project, about 8,000 students will attend different schools, including the seven new buildings about to open.

While setting ambitious goals for schoolwide performance, the superintendent has managed to break down the usual disconnect between top leadership and those in the trenches especially in a district ranking 25th in size nationally. His personal touches are readily acknowledged.

"He has the ability to connect to every person he meets and every audience he addresses. It's as though he has known each and every one of us all of his life," said Carla Jernigan, principal of Reedy Creek Middle School. "Every time I would see him, I would ask if he remembered me, and he could always recall the last conversation, even years later."

Andre Smith, principal of Wake Forest-Rolesville High School, contends McNeal left an indelible impression on him from his first opening-day assembly for faculty and administrators 10 years ago. "He stood before me making me understand why we could not leave any child behind. I never met this man and yet I was compelled to approach him and introduce myself," Smith said.

McNeal is well aware the newfound recognition that accompanies the National Superintendent of the Year award means he'll be hearing more frequently from search consultants hired by school boards desperate for strong leadership.

"As long as the community and I have this mutual relationship, I'm not going anywhere," he said shortly after the award ceremony. "Right now we seem to be getting along famously."

BIO STATS: Bill McNeal Jr.

Currently: superintendent, Wake County Public Schools, Raleigh, N.C.

Previously: teacher, principal, associate superintendent, Wake County, N.C.

Age: 57

Greatest Influence: My 11th grade social studies teacher, Mr. Bryant, who opened up the world to a small group of young men to include social etiquette, how to treat females and a global understanding of people and places. I wanted to be Mr. Bryant, and the first step was to become a teacher.

Best Professional Day: In 1978 I was invited by the students to the graduation of the first class I taught. What made it even more gratifying was that as they walked across the stage, they recognized me. I was treated as a member of their families, and I was invited to dinner and the after-graduation parties. That was a good day.

Books at Bedside: The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown, Prey by Michael Crichton, Sweet Caroline: The Last Child of Camelot by Christopher Anderson and No Excuses: Closing the Racial Gap in Learning by Stephan and Abigail Thernstrom

Biggest Blooper: During my first principalship, a group of middle school students went on a field trip. I forgot they had not returned and dismissed school. As the last bus pulled away, they arrived. I used the school activity bus to take children home whose parents did not pick them up and delivered the last child about 9:30 that evening. The parents recognized my obvious lack of experience. Not a good day.

A Reason I'm an AASA member: The tremendous networking available with my peers, resulting in the sharing of best practices. This also reduces a sense of isolation that most superintendents feel.

Jay Goldman is editor of The School Administrator, E-mail: [e-mail]