Public school superintendents have a unique dependency on the capacity of their local school boards to function competently and lead their school districts effectively. As credentialed experts in all aspects of school leadership, superintendents serve at the pleasure of a board of individuals who gain their authority through political means…

National interest in using school climate as an accountability measure makes it important to understand how school leaders view and make use of school climate data. The purpose of this study was to investigate how school and district administrators use climate data in Virginia, where a statewide school climate survey is annually administered.…

School superintendents make many decisions throughout their careers in an attempt to educate students. Many people, both inside and outside of education try to influence the decisions made by superintendents. Many of these influences are political in nature. This study looks at the history and levels of political influence in education, identifies…

This dissertation examined the leadership strategies used by rural, public-school superintendents in the Central Appalachian region of Eastern Kentucky during and following the flood of 2022 that was considered a natural disaster. The context of this study was framed by a 1 in 1000-year flooding event that devastated school districts and…

Cybersecurity remains a critical concern for school systems nationwide, showing a consistent increase in publicly disclosed K-12 cyber incidents over the past 5 years. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment underscores this trend, predicting ongoing targeting of K-12 school networks by cyber actors who will…

Creating a dynamic educational community takes collaboration and accountability from ALL constituents. Current research on leaders sets the foundation for recognizing the need for organizations to develop wellness initiatives and enhance research. In today's transient work world, wellness initiatives may aid in retention. Targeting the emotional…

Many district and school leaders have leveraged instructional leadership or social justice leadership to advance student achievement for minoritized students. While research has examined these approaches separately, we identify a potential gap at the nexus between instructional and social justice leadership. In particular, we find a need for…

Women in education are strongly represented in the classroom but are much less likely to become school district superintendents. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how women who have been superintendents for at least 3 years experienced mentoring and role preparation as they worked to attain the position. A transcendental…

This study is a phenomenological inquiry on the achievement bridge in Latina leadership and educational advancement. The case studies used counter-storytelling to explore the triumphs and challenges of Latina leadership in superintendency. Education is in dire need of leaders who disrupt, disquiet, or unhinge oppression with the disposition of a…

This qualitative study examined perceived leadership styles and the chosen career path of female superintendents within a southern state. While teaching is an occupation chosen primarily by women, the role of superintendent is filled predominantly by men. The superintendent of a school district is responsible for meeting the daily operational…

Soon after Xavier Botana took over as superintendent of Maine's Portland Public Schools, he realized that, despite the district's professed commitment, efforts to promote equity were embedded in other programs rather than being its own goal. He knew that if he were going to make his vision for equity a reality, he would need to get the community's…

The history of Kansas City Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) is rich, and it is not as well-known as the history of Kansas City Public Schools in neighboring Missouri. KCKPS had its own unique journey that magnified the challenges it faced to integrate the district. This historical research study examines the history of KCKPS and how race relations…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the perceptions of superintendents as to how prepared and supported they were to successfully lead an organization through crisis situations. A phenomenological approach was used and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 current or retired public school superintendents from diverse…

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived barriers and strategies held by Black, Hispanic, and White women with regard to the position of school superintendent. This study will include a review of data collected from the "Questionnaire on Perceptions of Barriers and Strategies Impacting on Women Securing the Superintendency"…

While most teachers in U.S. classrooms are women, most superintendents, the highest-ranking position in school districts, are men. Somewhere during educators' trajectory to superintendent positions, the representation of women diminishes. One might think that women, who make up most of the teachers, should be at least equally represented to men as…