The finding that turnover rates for school superintendents are highest in small districts has been reflected in a number of studies. To further examine the finding, a survey in Illinois used a stratified random sample of 100 school districts, 32 of which had 499 or less students. With 1974-75 as a base year, the average years served by superintendents of each district over a 17 year span was calculated. Small districts showed the greatest amount of turnover with the typical small district served by four superintendents who served about four years each. Seven districts had six or more superintendents. Seventy percent of the small district superintendents moved at least once in 12 years. The major factor prompting the changes was differences between the superintendents and school board and/or community over what schools should be doing. Career mobility for those changing positions was limited as they generally moved in a restricted geographical area among districts of the same size and type. Examples of vertical mobility to districts with higher salaries and greater numbers of students were rare. Study findings suggested several avenues for future exploration, including examination of educational consequences of turnovers and mobility, inspection of the psychological health of the superintendents, and analysis of victories for superintendents where the process of politics produced success for all concerned or where the moves were upward in job mobility. (DS)