AASA Releases 5-Year Study on the American School Superintendent
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact:
James Minichello
703-875-0723
703-774-6953 (cell)
jminichello@aasa.org
Alexandria, Va. – Dec.
9, 2015 – Today, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, released a
new comprehensive study, documenting demographics, background and experiences
of American school superintendents.
The Study of the
American Superintendent: 2015 Mid-Decade Update, serves as a follow up to
AASA’s landmark 2010 Decennial Study,
which examined historical and contemporary perspectives on our nation’s school
system leaders. This year’s report includes a supplementary section on gender
of the superintendency.
“It’s critical for the education community-at-large to
understand the history and context of superintendents, which is why our 2015 Update is so important,” said Daniel A.
Domenech, executive director, AASA. “By serving as a voice for all students,
superintendents hold one of the most important positions in the country. Data
generated by this series of reports will help us improve our school district
leadership and help us address issues such as supporting female and minority
superintendents in our communities.”
Some of the report’s key findings include:
- The pattern of an aging superintendency
continues from the 2010 study; one-third of superintendents plan to retire
within five years.
- While increases have been made throughout the
years, females only make up 27 percent of the superintendency, up only 2
percent from 2010. This stands in direct contrast to the female-dominated
teaching force.
- Superintendents most often see politics as
inhibiting their performance, with school board members, staff and community as
the greatest contributors.
- Career satisfaction remains high; over 80
percent of present superintendents would choose to be a superintendent again.
This number is lower for female superintendents, at 78 percent.
The work is a collaboration of the following authors:
Noelle Ellerson, associate executive director,
policy and advocacy, AASA;
Leslie Finnan, policy analyst, AASA;
T.C. Mattocks, associate professor, Bridgewater
State University;
Robert S. McCord, research professor in
residence, AASA;
George J. Petersen, founding dean, Clemson
University; and
Christopher Stream, associate professor,
University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
For specific questions about the 2015 Mid-Decade Update,
please contact Leslie Finnan at lfinnan@aasa.org.
For more information about the report, visit The Leading Edge
blog. Click
here to access a public summary of the report’s findings.
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About AASA
AASA, The School Superintendents Association,
founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000
educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s
mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are
dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children. For more
information, visit www.aasa.org.