Are We Burned Out? A Multi-Year Statewide Study of P-12 Superintendents

This study examines an emerging theme of burnout among superintendents across the nation. Morton and Valley (2022, January 6) reported in The Hechinger Report that in the past year, the superintendent turnover rate was up to 25% compared to the typical 14-16% rate and as many as 3,000 superintendent position vacancies can be attributed to ongoing political turmoil.

Despite the wealth of literature that shows policy enforcement, psychological and social stressors, and additional routine job duties of the superintendent position cause burnout (Johnson et al., 2020; Lefdal & Jong, 2020; Bell, 2019), comparatively neglected is literature on the source of these stressors. Since the turn of the century, superintendents have seen dramatic changes in their profession.