Superintendents are concerned about the stability of leadership pipelines in their districts, according to a District Administration Leadership Institute survey conducted this fall.
The leaders polled also cited teacher retention and recruitment, and student engagement as top challenges.
Leadership pipelines
The superintendents who cited leadership pipelines as a top concern warned that filling leadership roles was becoming more difficult. Political pressures are dampening morale and provoking disengagement among leaders as their jobs become increasingly untenable, the survey found.
They also highlighted the need for more coaching, professional development and greater awareness of administrators’ well-being and workloads. Effective change relies on transparency and accountability, while communication and face-to-face interaction were seen as key ways to build trust among education leaders.