Rural schools face unique and complex challenges and opportunities specific to rural contexts. Recognizing this, the Region 15 Comprehensive Center (R15CC) created and facilitates a community of practice (COP), the Rural COP, focused specifically on rural education in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. The goals of this COP are to share…

This quantitative study explored the relationship between the beliefs of school district superintendents regarding the implementation of trauma-informed strategies and their actions in supporting building principals with the implementation of those strategies within the K-12 school system in New York State. The findings suggest that…

It is the start of another school year, but unlike any other in the careers of teachers. This year, teachers find themselves at the nexus of a widespread, months-old pandemic and racial trauma that is centuries old. Despite this trauma and the uncertainty of resolution, teachers are being asked to step into the actual or virtual classroom, greet…

According to AASA, "men are four times more likely to serve in the most powerful position in education" (Robinson et al, 2017). That position being the superintendent in public school setting. The School Superintendents Association (AASA) found that less than 25% of superintendents were women (Superville, 2016). The purpose of this study…

In this study, we examine principals' data use within four districts are engaged in district-level professional learning around equity. Drawing on Gutierrez's framework for dimensions of equity, we consider how principals engage in data use in light of the dimensions of access, achievement, identity, and power. Findings suggest each district had…

This study explored the role of school superintendents and board of education trustees in closing the achievement gap, which can be defined as "the disparity in academic performance between groups of students" (Muhammad, 2015, p. 14). District leaders (superintendents and school boards) set the priorities and policies in their school…

There continues to be a discrepancy between women, who comprise 77% of the public school institution, yet make up only 31% of the superintendency and only 34% of high school principalships. This study sought to examine those very personalized, professional, and intimate connections of women who serve as a high school principal or superintendent in…

Negotiation is a process wherein decisions are made between parties with different points of view and possibly conflicting interests (Caputo, 2019). Little is known about how women experience negotiation for salary and compensation. Studies associated with gender and negotiations have focused on the process or outcomes of the negotiation. While…

According to the "2016-2017 Rural Schools Spotlight Report," Texas is home to more than 1,240 school districts with almost 665 serving less than 1,000 students. One focus for the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has been serving the needs of small and rural sites as they comprise more than 50% of the state's districts. In South Texas, a…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if a difference exists between male and female superintendents in rural Texas elementary schools in terms of student academic achievement measured through performance on the 3rd grade State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test. The study engages one research question for…

The purpose of this research was to develop and test an instrument to measure school leaders' use of Twitter for professional development (PD) and learning. Findings from an exploratory factor analysis indicate that the resulting nine-item Twitter for PD Scale offers a valid and reliable instrument to measure school leaders' use of Twitter for PD…

While the likelihood and probability of school districts encountering major crises remain unknown, superintendents need to anticipate and prepare for such events that have the potential to threaten their organization. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the behaviors and actions of New York State public school superintendents…

According to the California School Board Association, the role of the school board is to ensure that school districts are responsive to the values, beliefs, and priorities of their communities. Even though board members have a complex list of roles and responsibilities, CSBA assigns five primary major responsibilities: setting direction,…

The purpose of this study was to ascertain which personal characteristics and professional skills differentiate female superintendents from school board presidents during the hiring process of a new superintendent. Input from practicing Louisiana public school superintendents and school board presidents was obtained in this quantitative study.…

This study explores the beliefs and practices surrounding trust formation between superintendents and their principals. The problem of practice this study addresses is principal turnover. Through this qualitative case study of trust formation that framed superintendents as creators of trust and principals as givers of trust, this study finds that…