BOULDER, CO (February 13, 2025)—In this month's episode of NEPC Talks Education, Christopher Saldaña discusses the evolving landscape of K-12 educational leadership and the superintendency with Dr. Rachel White, founder of the Superintendent Lab and Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Texas at Austin.
White's research reveals concerning trends in superintendent turnover—particularly politically contentious turnover—with rates steadily increasing over the past five years. Currently, a significant portion of school districts nationwide are experiencing leadership changes. White also uncovers gender disparities in superintendent experiences related to attrition in conflictual environments: Women superintendents face significantly higher rates of politically contentious exits compared to their male counterparts.
White and Saldaña also discuss the substantial costs of cultural and political conflicts in education on both school districts and superintendents. According to White's recent research with her colleagues Dr. John Rogers, Dr. Robert Shand, and Dr. Joseph Kahne, such conflicts result in billions of dollars in costs to school districts across the United States. These expenses include direct costs like additional security and legal fees, indirect costs related to time management, and turnover costs. In addition to district costs, there are personal costs of cultural divisiveness for superintendents. For example, over half of superintendents reported experiencing harassment, and around 10% faced more serious issues like stalking, property vandalism, or threats of violence.
White recommends that school boards and superintendents work together to model healthy civil discourse in their communities. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring all voices are heard in local decision-making processes while maintaining focus on what's best for students. White also suggests that state and federal policymakers recognize and respect the expertise of local educational leaders, who are selected by their elected officials in their communities to make decisions that reflect local needs and values.
A new NEPC Talks Education podcast episode, hosted by Christopher Saldaña, will be released each month from September through May.
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