Our Values
The Superintendent Lab is committed to carrying out research in alignment with our values, each of which are rooted in the overarching value of educational equity.
Our values are a living document that we continuously revisit and revise as we engage with superintendents and research, practice, and policy partners.
All of the research we engage in is connected to one or more of our values. When Communicating Our Work, we display the value logo(s) associated with each publication, infographic, and brief.
Superintendent Stability
Every student deserves access to an inclusive and equitable education. District leaders are positioned to create a vision for equity and social justice within their schools and community, and guide policy and practice to see that vision through.
Yet, it takes time for a district leader to understand the needs and hopes of a local community and build relationships with students, educators, and community stakeholders. As such, stability of high quality district leaders is essential to healthy and equitable education systems.
Superintendent Diversity
To work towards more equitable public school systems, policy decisions for an increasingly diverse student population need to be made with leadership and input from people who intimately understand the lived experiences of students that have been systematically marginalized and underserved.
Moreover, superintendents are among the most visible public figures in a community, interfacing with families, businesses, and local government officials on a daily basis. A lack of diversity in these leadership positions can convey that a district is unwelcoming of diverse leaders that bring unique insights and perspectives to the work of schools. Additionally, unequal access to the superintendency can exacerbate broad disparities in social and economic opportunity and stability among women and persons of color.
Superintendent Working Conditions
Understanding the realities of the work of the superintendency is necessary to help policymakers, researchers, and leadership preparation programs best prepare and support aspiring superintendents and provide continuing education opportunities to current superintendents. While research has explored teacher and principal working conditions, very little empirical research systematically documents the work of the superintendent and how it influences educators, school staff, parents, students, and communities.
Examining superintendents’ daily work realities can provide valuable insight into effective leadership strategies and workplace environments that support the retention of high-quality superintendents.