The purpose of the current study was to identify the characteristics of Texas public school superintendents who have been in their position for at least 5 years and make that information available to school boards and individuals who seek to obtain the position of Texas school superintendent. The daily challenges of the school district leader may…

Purpose: In the wake of school board protests nationwide, it is essential for educational leaders, policymakers, and researchers to understand locally controlled educational governance. The stability of educational districts depends on superintendents navigating relationships with their school boards, yet little research exists that addresses…

This study investigates the impact of Instructional Leader Partnerships (ILPs) on superintendent leadership practices and their influence on school improvement. Recognizing the significant role of effective leadership in student achievement, this project explored the effects of pairing superintendents with thought partners within a regional…

The 2024-2025 AASA Superintendent Salary & Benefits Study marks the thirteenth consecutive edition of this report. The national survey tracked the demographics, salary, benefits, and other elements of the employment agreements of school superintendents throughout the country. This year's study results are based on 2,077 complete responses. The…

This study investigates the perceptions and responses of educational leaders in K12 settings concerning the mental health needs of students who have been impacted by Opioid Use Disorder. We adopt a bio-ecological view to frame the participants' lived experiences. Employing a basic qualitative design, we interviewed ten educational leaders of…

Strengthening equitable education is an ongoing challenge, and one powerful way to address it is by amplifying the perspectives of Latina leaders, whose unique experiences and insights can drive meaningful change. As educators, policymakers, and advocates, Latina leaders bring a deep understanding of the intersectional barriers faced by…

In this article, the authors use original survey data to test the determinants of priority conflict on urban school boards in the United States. The results indicate that school district demographics, including the percentage of English language learners and education spending per pupil, impact the extent to which urban school board members hold…

This qualitative case study explored administrators' perceptions of family and community engagement activities that enhanced student well-being and ultimately impacted academic achievement in one urban district. Template analysis of 11 semistructured interviews and observation notes employed the positive psychology well-being theoretical…

Student outcomes don't change until adult behaviors change. Or said differently when placed in the context of governing, patterns of behavior that are exhibited in the boardroom can reasonably be expected to be found paralleled in the classroom. This concept, which offers a summation of the current literature on board behaviors and their…

During the global pandemic of the 2020-21 school year, school districts rapidly transitioned from the traditional in-person structure of school to distance learning. This research study sought to understand how superintendents envisioned virtual learning as an option within their school district portfolio, exploring the barriers faced in its…

Deciding how to spend the nation's education dollars is a tremendous responsibility. It's easy to forget that this responsibility falls primarily to district leaders (sometimes with input from principals). Sometimes those decisions go well and schools beat the odds on student outcomes. Other times, they do not, and student outcomes lag. Sometimes…

According to Brenan (2021), 77% of Americans are concerned about the morals and values in America. Morality is embedded in the foundation of the United States and its educational system, with ethical dilemmas requiring leaders to be intentional and cognizant (Dahl, 2015; Johnson, 2021; Lickona, 1993; Smith, 2020). The California public educational…

The purpose of this ethnographic case study is to provide a rich picture of the ways in which the multidistrict superintendent (MDS) engages in contextually responsive and place-conscious leadership across multiple community school districts. Secondarily, the research explores the meaning ascribed to these leadership practices in the form of…

The job of the modern superintendent involves engaging with a variety of stakeholders in meaningful, yet impactful ways. The current study was designed to understand how superintendents leverage technology to engage school level stakeholders (principals, teachers, and students) through technology generally, and about technology integration…

This is the 18th edition of the Mackinac Center's annual school privatization survey. The Center asks every school district in the state if they outsource one of the three main noninstructional services -- custodial, transportation and food services. Responses from officials in all 539 public school districts between June 2 and September 24 were…