This qualitative phenomenological study focused on the lived experiences of novice superintendents in Tennessee. Novice superintendents were operationally defined as superintendents within their first 3 years of performing the responsibilities and duties of the role. The researchers also examined the role the Tennessee Organization of School…

Language education policy in Arizona has been on a rollercoaster over the last five years. Between 2019 and 2024, the state shifted from strict English-only enforcement to loosening restrictions and encouraging dual language approaches, then back to strict English-only enforcement. In this forum piece, we use approaches from critical discourse…

The Council of the Great City Schools (Council or CGCS) has studied the extent to which some of the large urban school districts overcome the impact of low socioeconomic status, English Learner status, and special education needs among students. As key figures overseeing administrative operations and policy implementation, superintendents are…

A case study on how one Colorado school district navigated crisis response, mental health support, and community rebuilding during devastating natural disasters, with specific attention to the 2021 Colorado Marshall Fires, the largest wildfire in Colorado history.

As a result of extensive media coverage, the tragedies at Columbine High School, Sandy Hook Elementary School, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are etched into the collective memory of American society. Shortly after the events at Sandy Hook, the National Rifle Association (NRA) presented a program to address student safety by arming…

The purpose of this problem-based learning project was to explore how superintendents make decisions regarding school facility resource deployment in order to inform the process of decision-making, leading to facilities leadership better aligned with best practices. Through interviews with 12 superintendents from school districts, comparable in…

Due to the growth of school choice across the United States as well as declining enrollment in some districts, schools are experiencing increasing competition for students. As a result, principals and school district leaders in high-choice districts are now expected to develop strategies such as branding, marketing, and community outreach to…

Discrepancies in the number of females occupying superintendent positions in the United States continue to exist; therefore, this study utilized a survey design to examine the perceived barriers to achieving the top positions in education as well as differences by gender among aspiring superintendents in K-12 in Illinois. Statistical analyses…

This qualitative study gathered the perspectives of public school superintendents on truancy interventions. The study sample consisted of five school superintendents employed within five New Jersey Public School Districts and included four males and one female with a minimum of twenty-five years of experience in public school settings. Each…

This qualitative study is designed to further understanding of how suburban school superintendents impact a district with changing demographics. The purpose of this study will be to assess how superintendents interpret changing demographics in their school districts and the impact of changing student demographics based on inclusive policies and…

This dissertation examined the leadership storytelling uses and practices by rural, public school superintendents in North Georgia who are engaged in change and innovation through agreements with the state in exchange for flexibility waivers from Title 20 of the Georgia Code. This study was the result of the participation of five rural,…

This study examined experienced school district leaders' informal and formal mentoring perspectives in times of stressful educational reform. In order to accomplish this qualitative research study, I sought to (a) gain an understanding of how experienced school district leaders viewed the presence of educational reforms, (b) gauge whether…

Using secondary data from a NY Kids comparative case study conducted in 2017-2018 of two positive outlier high schools, the purpose of this dissertation was to learn more about their discipline practices and the role secondary school leaders play in shaping those discipline systems. Two positive outlier high schools were studied, as they were…

This research study employed qualitative methodology, and the form of inquiry used was portraiture. Portraiture is rooted in the methodology of qualitative inquiry known as phenomenology; however, portraiture is distinct in that it intentionally includes diverse audiences through a fusion of art and science, while encapsulating the connection…

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore female superintendents' perceptions of how the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped their leadership style. Conceptual Framework: The conceptual frameworks for this phenomenological study included elements from transformational leadership theory and crisis management leadership.…