This case study involves a new school superintendent, unions, parent groups, and a school board. The case demonstrates how the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic impacted the relationships between a school board, teacher and administrator unions, parent organizations, and the school superintendent. It is the story of…

This qualitative research study was completed to understand better the essential components of an established partnership between the school superintendent and the school board president. A targeted group of New York school superintendents and school board presidents from school districts were interviewed. The participants answered questions on…

In the face of unprecedented challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic has tested the resilience and adaptability of educational systems worldwide. At the heart of this turmoil, the critical relationship between boards of education and superintendents has emerged as a focal point for both scrutiny and improvement. This dissertation examines the dynamics…

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…

Purpose: The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed methods study was to identify the political styles of exemplary suburban elementary school district superintendents and school board members in Southern California as perceived by superintendents. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to identify and explain the political strategies…

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,…

School principal demands, compounded by increased accountability and insufficient support, significantly contribute to principal burnout and adversely affect educational leadership and institutional efficacy. This interpretive qualitative case study examined the role of district leadership in mitigating principal burnout within a Texas school…

A beloved, respected, and highly accomplished superintendent in a rural, high-risk district, Mr. Carroll, is confronted with dissident board members for the first time in his 7-year tenure. Two newly elected members have strained relationships between current board members and are calling for his resignation based upon what they perceive as low…

In this autoethnographic research study, I examined my journey as an experienced superintendent in developing an effective relationship with the Board of Education in a new school district. This study examined the relevant research on the importance of the relationship between the Board and the superintendent of schools, the characteristics of a…

Purpose: In the wake of school board protests nationwide, it is essential for educational leaders, policymakers, and researchers to understand locally controlled educational governance. The stability of educational districts depends on superintendents navigating relationships with their school boards, yet little research exists that addresses…

In this article, the authors use original survey data to test the determinants of priority conflict on urban school boards in the United States. The results indicate that school district demographics, including the percentage of English language learners and education spending per pupil, impact the extent to which urban school board members hold…

Superintendents are leaving districts at an alarming rate across the nation, which can lead to detrimental effects for students, staff, and communities. Where once this was a position of prestige, it has become one in which educational experts are choosing to leave districts because of the various stressors that comprise their jobs. It is not…

Do school district central offices and school principals have the same level of influence on school decisions? What does the district-principal power relationship look like? These two questions are discussed but are rarely examined in the literature. Based on a nationally representative sample from the 2007-2008 Schools and Staffing Survey data,…

School districts struggle to attract and maintain a sufficient supply of highly capable superintendents. High-needs within rural districts, in particular, often are not able to attract and retain effective leaders. The issue of short superintendent tenure has drawn speculation and concern that revolving leadership may have negative consequences…

After 12 years as a building administrator, the author became Executive Director of School Leadership in Littleton Elementary School District #65, Avondale, Arizona. The district created this position to focus on the professional and personal growth of building leaders while ensuring district initiatives were implemented with fidelity. The…