This article reports the findings of a snapshot study of the superintendency conducted by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). The findings revealed that superintendents were evaluated highly by their boards, but the number of leaders who received the highest ratings have declined during the past six years. The report, which…

Questionnaires sent to all 119 local chief education officers in England, and returned by 73, asked their opinions about Education Reform Act of 1988. All changes, except National Curriculum, are not supported by majority of respondents. They state that reforms are causing upheaval and turmoil in provision of education services, and they lack…

This book presents the largest and most comprehensive look at the men and women leading the nation's public schools. This profile of the school superintendency offers a close examination of: (1) superintendents' personal characteristics, professional experience, and professional preparation and training; (2) superintendent/school board relations;…

This issue paper is the first in a series commissioned by the Education Commission of the States on issues relating to superintendent and school-board leadership. The study from which this paper derives builds on earlier studies that focused on characteristics and demographics of the superintendency, and on the status of relations and functions of…

The changing role of the local school district superintendent is examined in this paper, which focuses on the link between the local education executive officers and school effectiveness. It is argued that the concept of the superintendency has changed from that of a manager to that of the leader of school district quality and effectiveness. Four…

The selection of a superintendent is the most important decision a school board will make. With that premise established, this brief study examines the superintendent search process and the state of the superintendent applicant pool. Data were gathered from 30 practicing search consultants who responded to a mailed questionnaire. The key findings…

This study reflects the view of three key state education groups concerning the perceived superintendent applicant crisis. One group consists of 37 elected and appointed chief state school officers, a second of 42 executive directors of the American Association of School Administrators' (AASA) state affiliates, and a third of 31 executive…

AASA's 2000 survey indicates that women are poorly positioned for superintendencies, lack appropriate credentials, have little fiscal management experience, eschew pursuit of superintendencies for personal reasons, face boards' reluctance to hire them, have higher teaching motivations than formerly, and enter the administrator preparation…

The 2000 American Association of School Administrators Ten-Year Study of the American School Superintendent cites reports from superintendents that the superintendency is a very viable and rewarding career in public service. Despite this, they do indicate that a number of problems and troubling challenges exist; however, not so many as to…

A survey of school district superintendents sought to gather data on a number of characteristics and compare the data with earlier surveys. From a random sample of 2,536 superintendents, stratified by district size, responses were received from 1,724, for a return rate of 68 percent, or 11 percent of all U.S. superintendents. The variables covered…

A survey of school district superintendents sought to gather data on a number of characteristics and compare the data to studies conducted in 1971 and 1982. From a random sample of 2,536 superintendents, stratified by district size, usable survey responses were received from 1,724, for a return rate of 68 percent, or 11 percent of all United…