The future of public school performance demands that states and districts actively develop and seek strong principals. Instructional leadership is the critical element that is missing in efforts to improve America's lowest-performing schools and in moving good schools to great schools. Turnover among principals currently is at an unsustainable…

The passage of a school bond can determine the direction of a district for many years to come (Faltys, 2006). Upkeep of older facilities and the building of new facilities can have an impact on instruction, teacher job satisfaction, student achievement, and perceptions toward the district (Moore, 2003). Despite the fact there is often state money…

This research was conducted to examine how school district superintendents perceive prospective school principals who were initially certified through alternate means. Data were collected through interviews with superintendents in an effort to examine whether the superintendents believed that principals' career and educational paths affected the…

This case presents a situation in which a reformist superintendent attempts to achieve a systemwide, yet simple change in the school time schedule to incorporate well-established neurocognitive sleep research to enhance student learning. The public discussion of the reform proposal brought forth a very negative, single issue group who took over…

The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the role of the public school superintendent, which some researchers claim is one of the most complex leadership positions seen today. The challenges of the superintendency may be contributing to a great number of professionals leaving the field, and a rate of turnover that some…

Today's urban secondary principals face many challenges. They have to not only manage their schools, but also be effective instructional leaders, often changing instructional practices in order to promote student achievement. This involves the support of many, most notably the superintendent, in order to be done well and make their school a highly…

This study focused on the perceived ethics of the decisions superintendents make in response to a situation with a teacher that was value-laden, potentially volatile, and potentially affected by the teachers' gender or ethnicity. Superintendents (N = 123) each read one of 12 versions of a vignette depicting a sexting incident between a…

This study examined the leadership practices of seven rural superintendents, selected via a sampling strategy which identified disadvantaged rural districts that had experienced marked increased in test scores during the superintendent's tenure. Researchers examined how the practices of these superintendents were linked to Waters and Marzano's…

Current researchers indicate that the superintendency continues to be male dominated and aspirants are often unaware of the strategies necessary to achieve the position. The purpose of this researcher is to identify the challenges female administrators face in their quest for the superintendency and to explore, through a qualitative…

Women have traditionally been underrepresented as school district superintendents. Male superintendents are often thought to have skill in managing facilities and budgets while women have often been viewed as better instructional leaders. This study used surveys to research whether or not superintendents themselves perceive their skills…

The role of the community in public education is rooted in the earliest beginnings of the American educational system. This exploratory and quantitative study examined what the superintendent does to lead the school district regarding community engagement, and also examined community member perceptions of that engagement. This was based on…

Superintendents must manage all programs within a school district, but many superintendents do not possess the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully direct a district's special education program. This study examined superintendents' perceptions of their knowledge of special education and the importance of that knowledge to their practice.…

With the increased demands for school accountability from the federal, state, and district levels, many school administrators report limited time available for the critical task of classroom observations. This research examined the relationship between classroom observations using a walk-through procedure and student performance. Building…

This study reports the results of a comparison of differences in salary, interview experiences, and contract negotiations for male and female superintendents. Other variables of interest include educational attainment and educational experiences. The study participants (N = 161) consisted of practicing superintendents from four regions of the…

This dissertation is a report of a mixed method study that examines the leadership practices of black and white public school superintendents in the state of South Carolina. The researcher explored any self-perceived leadership practice differences, if existent, between black and white superintendents and, if so, were the race of the…