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Pandemic-Era Changes in Urban School Leadership: Superintendent Characteristics, Turnover, and Salaries

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Title: Pandemic-Era Changes in Urban School Leadership: Superintendent Characteristics, Turnover, and Salaries
Language: English
Authors: Chester Holland, Mary M. Oewel, Casey A. Crews, Kyuna Sims, Akisha Osei Sarfo, Brian Garcia, Ray Hart, Council of the Great City Schools
Source: Council of the Great City Schools. 2024.
Availability: Council of the Great City Schools. 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 702, Washington, DC 20004. Tel: 202-393-2427; Fax: 202-393-2400; Web site: http://www.cgcs.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 20
Publication Date: 2024
Intended Audience: Policymakers; Administrators
Document Type: Reports - Research
Descriptors: Pandemics, COVID-19, Urban Schools, Superintendents, Administrator Characteristics, Leadership Qualities, School Districts, Equal Education, Inclusion, Labor Turnover, Salaries, Salary Wage Differentials, Employment Practices, Barriers, Institutional Characteristics, Differences
Abstract: The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a paradigm shift, necessitating adaptive leadership to navigate unprecedented challenges, foster innovation, and prioritize the well-being of students and staff. In this context, superintendents serve as chief executives, guiding districts through complex terrain, balancing fiscal responsibilities, stakeholder expectations, and educational imperatives to cultivate inclusive, equitable learning environments. This study aims to uncover trends in superintendent pay and turnover in system leadership by examining the characteristics of urban school district superintendents within the current 78 member districts of the Council of the Great City Schools (Council). It focuses on understanding the racial and gender demographics of superintendents, the prevalence of turnover within demographic groups as well as the relationship between superintendent and district characteristics and superintendent's base salaries. This report also considered the often-noted disparities in pay, hiring, and retention at the superintendent level along the lines of gender. By addressing these topics, the Council seeks to provide some insight that may inform conversation on the challenges facing urban school district leadership and inform strategies to promote stability and effectiveness in urban district leadership roles. Findings include that regarding turnover, no distinguishable patterns along the lines of race/ethnicity were found and any difference that may exist was not significant. One of the more interesting findings in this analysis pertained to district free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL) rates--which indicated that, while superintendent salaries were determined to be unaffected by representation of economically-disadvantaged students in districts, turnover rates slightly increase among Council districts having lower FRPL rates. The insights from this study have implications for school boards, and administrators focused on enhancing leadership stability in urban school districts.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED671265
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED671265
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  Data: Pandemic-Era Changes in Urban School Leadership: Superintendent Characteristics, Turnover, and Salaries
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chester+Holland%22">Chester Holland</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mary+M%2E+Oewel%22">Mary M. Oewel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Casey+A%2E+Crews%22">Casey A. Crews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kyuna+Sims%22">Kyuna Sims</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Akisha+Osei+Sarfo%22">Akisha Osei Sarfo</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brian+Garcia%22">Brian Garcia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ray+Hart%22">Ray Hart</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Council+of+the+Great+City+Schools%22">Council of the Great City Schools</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Council+of+the+Great+City+Schools%22"><i>Council of the Great City Schools</i></searchLink>. 2024.
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  Data: Council of the Great City Schools. 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 702, Washington, DC 20004. Tel: 202-393-2427; Fax: 202-393-2400; Web site: http://www.cgcs.org
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– Name: Abstract
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  Data: The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a paradigm shift, necessitating adaptive leadership to navigate unprecedented challenges, foster innovation, and prioritize the well-being of students and staff. In this context, superintendents serve as chief executives, guiding districts through complex terrain, balancing fiscal responsibilities, stakeholder expectations, and educational imperatives to cultivate inclusive, equitable learning environments. This study aims to uncover trends in superintendent pay and turnover in system leadership by examining the characteristics of urban school district superintendents within the current 78 member districts of the Council of the Great City Schools (Council). It focuses on understanding the racial and gender demographics of superintendents, the prevalence of turnover within demographic groups as well as the relationship between superintendent and district characteristics and superintendent's base salaries. This report also considered the often-noted disparities in pay, hiring, and retention at the superintendent level along the lines of gender. By addressing these topics, the Council seeks to provide some insight that may inform conversation on the challenges facing urban school district leadership and inform strategies to promote stability and effectiveness in urban district leadership roles. Findings include that regarding turnover, no distinguishable patterns along the lines of race/ethnicity were found and any difference that may exist was not significant. One of the more interesting findings in this analysis pertained to district free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL) rates--which indicated that, while superintendent salaries were determined to be unaffected by representation of economically-disadvantaged students in districts, turnover rates slightly increase among Council districts having lower FRPL rates. The insights from this study have implications for school boards, and administrators focused on enhancing leadership stability in urban school districts.
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: ED671265
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 20
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Pandemics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Urban Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Superintendents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Administrator Characteristics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Leadership Qualities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Districts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Equal Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Inclusion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Labor Turnover
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Salaries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Salary Wage Differentials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Employment Practices
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      – SubjectFull: Barriers
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      – SubjectFull: Institutional Characteristics
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      – SubjectFull: Differences
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Pandemic-Era Changes in Urban School Leadership: Superintendent Characteristics, Turnover, and Salaries
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              Y: 2024
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