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.
Some leaders said monthly learning walks help align and that partnering with educational institutions will strengthen leadership capacity.
Teacher retention
Perceived low pay, lack of preparation and work-life balance issues are among the biggest hurdles for newly hired teachers. Teachers are also increasingly concerned about student behavior, political compliance and having sufficient time for professional development.
The superintendents surveyed said they are working to create a more positive culture through teacher empowerment. Coaching and feedback, tuition and housing assistance, and clear professional pathways are leading retention strategies.
Districts are also training teachers to use artificial intelligence to reduce workloads around lesson planning, data analysis and reporting.
Student engagement
Superintendents noted several reasons for declining student engagement:
- Students feel unrecognized as individuals
- Lack of autonomy
- Distractions from technology
- Unclear career pathways
- Questions about the relevance of instruction
- Parental disinterest beginning as early as kindergarten
The most promising solutions include new technology that captivates students more than traditional instruction, building stronger student-teacher relationships, improving classroom safety and providing opportunities for play-based and inquiry-driven learning.
Educators also need to build student confidence and self-efficacy from early achievement.
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