Communicating Our Work
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Briefs & Infographics
Featured Briefs (Spring 2025 Update)
Everything We Know from Research on Superintendents, via the AEFP Live Handbook
by Rachel S. White
Research Overview
2025
Everything We Know from Research on School Boards, via the AEFP Live Handbook
by James Bridgeforth and Rachel S. White
Research Overview
2025
U.S. Superintendent Attrition: 2019-20 to 2024-25
by Rachel S. White
Infographic
2025
Gender & the American Superintendency:
2019-20 to 2024-25
by Rachel S. White & Dayna Muñiz
Infographic
2025
Trends in U.S. Acting/Interim Superintendents
by Rachel S. White
Infographic
2024
Gender & the Superintendency
Across Red, Blue, and Swing States
by Lauren Eckley and Rachel S. White
Infographic
2024
Data availability and transparency around superintendent attrition
by Emily Bengyak & Rachel S. White
Data Brief
2024
U.S. Superintendent Attrition:
2019-20 to 2023-24
by Rachel S. White
Infographic
2023
Gender & the American Superintendency:
2019-20 to 2023-24
by Rachel S. White
Infographic
2023
Superintendent beliefs about & engagement in state education policymaking
by Rachel S. White
Infographic
2023
Research Spotlight: “Untapped Talent: An 11-year Analysis of the Texas Superintendent Workforce”
by Johnathon S. Jerman
Research Brief
2023
Superintendent gender gaps in the U.S. (2019-2022)
by Rachel S. White
Infographic
2023
Superintendent turnover in the U.S. (2019-2022)
by Rachel S. White
Infographic
2023
Superintendents experiencing threats and contention
by Rachel S. White, Michael P. Evans, Joel R. Malin
Brief
2023
Superintendent job-seeking behaviors: Types of positions sought and reasons for seeking
Rachel S. White, Michael P. Evans, Joel R. Malin
Brief
2023
Media Coverage and Interviews
Superintendent churn rattles Sonoma, Napa county schools – and kid pay the price.
Tarini Mehta, The Press Democrat
Media Interview
10/2025
AASA Blog: Cultivating Our Future Leadership
Gladys Cruz
Media Mention
11/2025
Lincoln Public Schools paid its former superintendent six figures. He didn’t work
Emily Wolf, Flatwater Free Press
Media Interview
10/2025
Superintendent churn rattles Sonoma, Napa county schools – and kid pay the price.
Tarini Mehta, The Press Democrat
Media Interview
10/2025
Illinois superintendent salaries often don’t reflect the district’s size, wealth or student performance
Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune
Media Interview
9/2025
Crisis in the making: Superintendent shortage is real—and getting worse
P.J. Caposey
Media Mention
9/2025
Idaho superintendent turnover higher than national rates.
Emma Epperly, Idaho Ed News
Media Interview
9/14/2025
Database shows which states gain, lose female superintendents
Jennifer Igbonoba, Education Week
Media Interview
8/19/2025
Becoming school superintendent in an age of uncertainty and anxiety
Louis Freedberg, EdSurge
Media Interview
8/14/2025
Culture wars divert vital money from schools
Rachel S. White
Op-Ed, Austin Statesman
8/12/2025
How culture wars divert millions of dollar from Texas schools. It must stop.
Rachel S. White
Op-Ed, San Antonio Express-News
8/10/2025
California’s culturally divisive conflict is costing schools too much
Huriya Jabbar and Rachel S. White
Op-Ed, LA Report @ The 75 Million
8/6/2025
Current trends in the superintendent workforce: An interview with Rachel White
Chris Thelen, UCEA Policy & Outreach Coordinator
Interview
8/15/2025
When is it time for a superintendent to quit? Here are some signs
Caitlynn Peetz, Education Week
Media Mention
7/30/2025
At six months with Richmond as interim, what’s next for MCSC leadership?
Laura Testino, Daily Memphian
Media Interview
7/20/2025
When school boards and superintendents split, hefty payouts follow.
Kate Ryan, WTOP News
Media Interview
7/18/2025
Use it or lose it: The promise vs the reality of school boards as democratic institutions
Jennifer Berkshire & Jack Schneider, Have You Heard Podcast
Podcast Interview
7/2025
Women, people of color still underrepresented in superintendency
Sarah Williamson and Chad Bolser
Media Interview
7/15/2025
This research shows the full scope of superintendent turnover
Micah Ward, District Administrator
Media Mention
5/19/2025
Superintendents are ditching Utah schools
Erin Alberty, Axios Salt Lake
Media Mention
5/2025
Education Department cuts threaten to deepen local schools’ woes
Russell Contreras, Axios
Media Interview & Data Visualization Support
5/25/2025
Research is shedding new light on superintendents to help them succeed.
Caitlynn Peetz, Education Week
Media Interview
4/2/2025
The Superintendent Lab: A Conversation
Sarah Williamson and Chad Bolser, Build Momentum for Education Podcast
Podcast Interview
3/2025
What’s going on with superintendent turnover? with Rachel White and Rob DeMeuse
Derek Gottlieb, The School Perceptions Podcast
Podcast Interview
3/25/2025
An interview with Rachel White about K-12 educational leadership and the superintendency
Chris Saldaña, NEPC Talks Education Podcast
Podcast Interview
2/13/2025
The cost of divisive conflict on school districts and school boards
Noelle Ellerson Ng, AASA PEP Talk Podcast
Podcast Interview
1/25/2025
What we can and should expect from school boards, with Dr. Rachel White
Derek Gottlieb, The Referenda Podcast
Podcast Interview
1/2025
The politics of disruption with Dr. Rachel White and Dr. Rebecca Jacobsen.
Jennifer Berkshire & Jack Schneider, Have You Heard Podcast
Podcast Interview
11/20/2024
Banned rainbows and ‘forced out.’ Will elections reshape this relentless school board?
Jaweed Kaleem, LA Times
Media mention
11/1/2024
Schools take a $3 billion hit from the culture wars. Here’s how it breaks down
Caitlynn Peetz, EdWeek
Media coverage
10/30/2025
Cost of conflict: Schools now spend billions dealing with division
Matt Zalaznick, District Administrator
Media coverage
10/24/2024
Conflict over race, LGBTQ+ rights costs schools billions annually
Bill Britt, Alabama Political Reporter
Media coverage
10/23/2024
Schools spent $3.2 billion on conflict over divisive issues in 2023-24.
Kara Arundel, K-12 Dive
Media mention
10/22/2024
New report details cost of conflict for districts
Noelle Ng Ellerson, AASA
Media coverage
10/23/2025
How the culture wars are costing schools billions
Caitlynn Peetz, EdWeek
Media coverage
10/23/2024
US public schools burned up nearly $3.2bn fending off rightwing culture attacks – report
Lois Beckett, The Guardian
Media coverage
10/22/2024
New research puts a cost on school board conflict: $3.2 billion last year alone
Wellington Soares, Chalkbeat
Media coverage
10/22/2024
Dr. Rachel White talks mirrors, windows, and data in the superintendency.
Peter Steipelman, An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Podcast Interview
10/2025
The average salary for Louisiana superintendents is $169,000. See how much each one makes
Ashley White, The Advocate
Media interview
8/29/2024
Editorial: Why superintendents really matter – now more than ever.
Editorial Board, Richmond Times Dispatch
Media mention
7/28/2024
Superintendent turnover in Montana is among the highest in the nation, researchers say
Austin Amestoy, Montana NPR
Radio interview
8/21/2024
Who are Alabama’s highest and lowest paid superintendents?
Trisha Powell Crain, Al.com
Media mention
6/25/2024
Feeling pressure from politicians and parents, more superintendents quit
Zina Hutton, Governing Magazine
Media interview
04/2024
Western PA school districts see high superintendent turnover from pandemic, politicized school boards
Megan Tomasic, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Media interview
4/15/2024
Superintendent vacancies are high. Is loosening requirements a good idea?
Evie Blad, EdWeek
Media interview
4/23/2024
Over 80% of women leaders in education experience bias, survey shows
Linda Jacobsen, The 74
Media mention
3/19/2024
Advice from 8 women superintendents for those following in their footsteps
Caitlynn Peetz, EdWeek
Media mention
3/6/2024
Women encounter steeper climb in educational administration
Matt Pearl, Scripps News
TV interview
3/1/2024
AASA PEP Talk Episode 27: Superintendent Attrition , Mobility and Gender
Kat Sturdevant (AASA) and Rachel White
Podcast Interview
2/22/2024
Why is 1 in 5 supes named Michael, John, David, Jeff, James, Chris, Brian, Robert, Mark, or Steve?
Rachel White, The 74 Million
Op-Ed
2/8/2024
Addressing the challenge of postpandemic district leadership
Rachel White, Jennifer Cheatham, Carl Cohn, and Julie Marsh
PACE 2024 Annual Conference Panel
1/25/2024
Advice from former superintendents on retaining those still on the job
Betty Márquez Rosales, EdSource
Media Mention
1/31/2024
Political pressures and controversies driving superintendent turnover nationwide
Josh Rosenthal, Fox 5 DC
TV Interview
1/23/2024
Memphis superintendent search nears close with final set of candidate interviews
Laura Testino, Chalkbeat
Media Interview
1/31/2024
What the data says about superintendent turnover in 23-24
Micah Ward, District Administration
Media Mention
1/9/2024
10 education studies you should know from 2023.
Sarah Sparks, EdWeek
Media Mention
12/21/2023
Salaries, benefits increase as school superintendents become harder to find
Diana Lambert, EdSource
Media Interview
12/11/2023
Threat, stress and politics pushing school superintendents out the door
Diana Lambert, EdSource
Media Interview
12/5/2023
A new study details gender and racial disparities in the superintendent’s office
Caitlynn Peetz, EdWeek
Media Mention
12/5/2023
Should school board members go local or look afar for the next superintendent? That depends
Caitlynn Peetz, EdWeek
Media Interview
11/22/2023
Should school board members be paid? More districts are trying it out
Caitlynn Peetz, EdWeek
Media Interview
11/14/2023
High pace of superintendent turnover continues, data show
Evie Blad, EdWeek
Media Mention
9/20/2023
More superintendents are quitting as school year begins
Caitlynn Peetz, EdWeek
Media Interview
8/23/2023
States are making a flurry of school policies. Why aren’t superintendents more invovled?
Caitlynn Peetz, EdWeek
Media Interview
8/15/2023
Superintendent turnover is increasing and gender gaps are barely budging
Rachel White, The Conversation
Public commentary
5/15/2023
There’s a good chance your superintendent has one of these 15 names
Caitlynn Peetz, EdWeek
Media Interview
3/24/2023
3 things we know about superintendents
Caitlynn Peetz, EdWeek
Media Interview
4/13/2023
Why are so many school superintendents leaving the job?
Rachel White, Governing
Public commentary
3/21/2023
What are the odds your superintendent is named Michael, David, or John?
Emily Tate Sullivan, Ed Surge
Media Interview
3/14/2023
“Is your superintendent’s name Kevin?”
@Sabocat
Social Media Post
3/7/2023
Why aren’t there more women superintendents?
Stephen Sawchuk, EdWeek
Media Interview
3/10/2022
A lauded superintendent retires after years of crises: “I don’t want to become bitter”
Stephen Sawchuk, EdWeek
Media Interview
9/7/2023
Research Papers
Illustrating The Power & Complexity of a National Longitudinal Superintendent Database Through an Exploration of Cross-State Mobility
White, R.S. & Jerman, J. (2025) in Journal of Educational Administration
United States Superintendents’ Experiences with Professional Networks and Other Social Supports in Politically Contentious Times
Malin, J.R., Acheampong, E., Abodunrin, A.S., White, R.S., & Evans, M.P. (2025). in Journal of Educational Administration.
Superintendents’ Beliefs About and Engagement in State Education Policy Making
White, R.S. (2025) in Education Policy
AEFP Live Handbook: Superintendents
White, R.S. (2025) in AEFP Live Handbook
“Trial and Error” & “Trudging Up a Hill”: Superintendents’ Beliefs About and Engagement in State Education Policymaking
White, R.S. (2023) in Annenberg Institute at Brown University Working Paper Series
Ceilings Full of Glass and Leaving En Masse?: Examining Superintendent Gender Gaps and Turnover Over Time Across the United States
White, R.S. (2023) in Educational Researcher
What’s In a First Name? America’s K-12 Public School District Superintendent Gender Gap
White, R.S. (2001) in Leadership and Policy in Schools
Studying the Superintendency: A Call for Research
Annenberg Institute at Brown University
The Unique (and not-so-unique) Political Battles of Suburban Superintendents
White, R.S., Evans, M.P., & Malin, J.R. (2023) in Phi Delta Kappan
Are Locally Elected Boards Really Failing?
White, R.S., Stitzlein, S., Knight-Abowitz, K., Gottleib, D., & Schneider, J. (2023) in Education Next
Helping School Districts Function More Democratically
Collins, J., Gottleib, D., Knight-Abowitz, K., Murray, B., Saultz, A., Schneider, J., Stitzlein, S.M., & White, R.S. (2023) in American School Board Journal
Schools Boards and Superintendents Should Work in Concert
White, R.S., & Lineburg, M.Y. (2022) in Phi Delta Kappan.
Who Do State Policy Makers Listen To? The Case of Teacher Evaluation
White, R.S. (2018) in Phi Delta Kappan