The purpose of this study was to determine if mentorship and sponsorship could help identify the potential political pitfalls or "hidden rules" of senior-level leadership to increase the identification, recruitment, and retention of minority women, specifically African American women in the role of superintendent or executive at the…

School administrators face uncertainties and challenges in implementing nontraditional learning environments that provide high-quality educational experiences during pandemics and crises (Basilaia & Kvavadze, 2020; Tria, 2020). The purpose of the current qualitative exploratory case study was to explore how 11 district-level (superintendents…

The narrative of superintendent's leaving school districts shortly after being hired is a national phenomenon with significant impacts on the capacity of educational systems to make progress and improvement. Exacerbated in high need/reform districts, evidence of dysfunction in the relationship between the superintendent and board of education…

In 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) enacted a new law called Act 44, which provided new form of funding for school safety in school districts across the State of Pennsylvania. The study focused on how school superintendents and high school principals prioritized each category in Pennsylvania Act 44 from highest to the lowest…

Globally, schools continue to espouse commitments to equity and racial justice, yet racialized opportunity gaps continue to exist in schools, especially schools located in urban communities. In this research, we offer an empirically based explanation for this phenomenon by demonstrating how white district leaders resist enacting meaningful…

Hub-centered improvement networks are emerging as an organizational form that has the potential to empower local educators, families, communities, and students to respond positively to ever-rising ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity in the United States. A problem, however, lies in a disconnect between (a) hub leaders as the…

Ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff is paramount. This Spotlight explores approaches to enhancing school safety and emergency response, emphasizing both proactive prevention and effective crisis management. From state-level initiatives focused on violence prevention and the implementation of surprise safety inspections, these…

Post-pandemic measures show increases in mental health concerns, chronic absenteeism, and disciplinary incidents in schools across the US. This article focuses on how a rural school district in western New York, Silver Creek Central School District, is addressing student mental health needs, working to lower absenteeism rates, and increasing…

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to expand knowledge on Swedish principals' professional development (PD) from the perspectives of superintendents. In particular, the article analyzes how superintendents understand and organize PD for principals. Design/methodology/approach: Empirical data are derived from a strategic sample of ten (n = 10)…

COVID-19 placed a significant burden on urban students of color and their families. Changing environmental, community, and schooling factors influenced students' ability and desire to attend school regularly. To ensure that students would attend school, district and school leaders were challenged with creating school environments and cultures that…

Given that a national superintendent dataset has never existed, claims about superintendent turnover and gender gaps have traditionally been based on conjecture or data from a single year and small sample of superintendents. Utilizing a new dataset of all K-12 public school district superintendents in the United States across four school years,…

Exposure to school violence has adverse effects on student academic performance and behavior. A safe school environment is essential for student and staff safety and achievement. Safety approaches include authoritative measures, which use security cameras, metal detectors, and controlled building access; and educational measures that include…

While the overall number of women superintendents has increased in recent years, representation disparities persist across educational ranks. The present study's aim was to explore the career paths that facilitate women's success in achieving and retaining the superintendent role for five or more years. Employing narrative inquiry through…

The demographics of our nation's public schools continue to diversify. Less than 50% of our nation's public school students are white, however, less than 25% percent of superintendents identify as People of Color. To that end, retention of diverse leaders specifically, Black Women across all sectors is in decline. The mission of The Surge…

Education in California has undergone a transformative revolution driven by a collective vision to reimagine teaching and learning. A crucial catalyst in this evolved landscape is the role of school counselors, whose task of preparing students for college and career readiness holds immense potential. Despite their role's critical importance,…