Strong collaboration between school boards and superintendents can be make or break for district leadership—but those relationships are too often hindered by hurdles like external political pressures, conflicts, and poorly defined roles.
Those sentiments emerged through interviews with 100 board members from 33 states by Ballotpedia, a nonpartisan website that tracks issues related to politics and elections, for a new qualitative report that explores the concerns and experiences of the most local of elected officials.
“The board-superintendent relationship is arguably the most critical factor in effective school governance,” said the Sept. 4 report, based on a series of interviews that started in 2024. “While many boards report successful collaboration, others face significant misalignment or political interference.”