The purpose of this research was to examine the effects that a superintendent candidate's sex and professional background and school board chairpersons' sex have on resume screening decisions. School board chairpersons were selected randomly from across the United States to receive one of six types of hypothetical superintendent candidates'…

The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) set forth the Renewal School initiative as a method of school turnaround that preserves the existing school community; with necessary leadership changes when applicable, and supplied human and operational resources. Educational research has cited that school leadership is the second leading…

In this case, I share my process of analyzing data in a multiple case study. The study looked at the interconnections between contexts, leadership, and educational equity to better understand how superintendents lead systems that offer equitable educational experiences for all students. Data included 16 one-on-one interviews with four…

This study examined how intentional change decisions impacted the organizational culture of a newly constructed and reconfigured elementary school in Central Massachusetts. District administration enacted seven intentional change decisions during the project to influence the culture of the new school. Semi-structured interviews were held with nine…

This conceptual article challenges researchers and practitioners to reconsider the utility of current constructs used to understand the rural school superintendency. We evaluate the rural leadership literature through two waves of scholarship: insider/outsider conceptions and place-conscious/critical place-conscious constructs. We assert critical…

In this qualitative study, the researcher used a phenomenological design to better understand Hispanic superintendents' perceptions of how or if their personal childhood experiences influenced their current leadership stance in educating Hispanic English language learners (ELLs) enrolled in their respective school districts. She examined the…

This research study examined the relationship between district climate and teacher commitment. The study was conducted using a sample of fifteen (15) school districts in North and Central Alabama. The districts were composed of 110 schools, 51 secondary and 59 elementary. The respondents to the research study were 1587 school teachers and 99…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the relationship between the background of superintendents and their hiring of principals. This study explored whether six superintendents in Nassau County, NY hire principals based on what the research says makes a successful principal or based on their personal background and professional…

This qualitative phenomenological narrative inquiry research study used narrative inquiry to investigate rural superintendents' experiences with the application of principle-centered leadership in their districts. Ten superintendents from rural districts in east Texas were interviewed. Narratives were analyzed by organizing, describing,…

The 2021-22 AASA Superintendent Salary & Benefits Study marks the ninth consecutive edition of this study. The 2021-2022 version employed a slightly revised and updated survey instrument. The survey tracks the demographics, salary, benefits, and other elements of the employment agreements of school superintendents throughout the country. The…

In this paper we discuss the connection between the lack of special education specific preparation for leaders and decades of evidence of racial inequities in special education. In doing so, we have a four-fold purpose. First, we outline the basic Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) legal requirements that educational leadership…

In July 2022, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, launched the third in a series of surveys detailing how district leaders across America are utilizing American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to respond to the pandemic and in particular, address student learning recovery. Hundreds of superintendents responded to this survey. The July 2022 AASA…

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, accelerating the collapse of an already disintegrating city public school system. Prior to the storm, almost two-thirds of New Orleans public school students attended failing schools, half dropped out, and fewer than one in five enrolled in college. The school system suffered severe…

Public schooling has always been politically fraught, but current disagreements over issues related to race, sexuality, gender, and COVID-19 have reached a tipping point. According to this report from the Center on Reinventing Public Education and RAND, half of school system leaders say that these disagreements are disrupting schooling. Almost one…

In recent years, public school superintendents have faced increased demands from rigorous federal and state accountability standards. Yet, researchers have reported that academic improvement does not happen by chance but rather through effective leaders with ample time to implement broad, sustainable reform. The purpose of this study was to…