This study examined the various reasons that motivated district superintendents to leave their 1987-88 positions. The analysis was drawn from a survey of 27 superintendents who had resigned from their current positions. Respondents (N=24) indicated a moderate to high degree of pressure from school boards. All respondents, except one, did not identify implementing the Education Improvement Act as having a strong influence on their decisions to resign. The retirement incentive had little influence on resignation decisions. There appeared to be some relationship between number of years in the superintendency, age of the respondent, and moving to a position with more attractive benefits. Those with 11-14 years of superintendency experience indicated they were moving to a position with more attractive benefits. (3 references) (SI)