Why Pursue a First Superintendency?

State of the Superintendency

When someone is contemplating seeking a superintendency for the first time, the decision is based on a complex web of factors. Some factors will build the confidence to apply and others will provide an incentive to apply. Superintendents were asked in a survey to rank some factors that may have been considered when they made the decision to apply for their first superintendent position.

In both 2006 and 2015, on-the-job experience was the highest factor to build the confidence to apply for the position. This was ranked No. 1 by over 50 percent of the respondents. The importance of taking on greater challenges and having a greater influence on the lives of children reversed rankings between 2006 and 2015 with greater influence on the lives of children becoming more important as an incentive for applying.