A Comparison of Arizona School Board Members and Superintendents' Perceptions of Superintendent Candidate Characteristics and Qualifications

The selection of the superintendent is the most important responsibility of school board members.

School board members receive no training in the area of human resources yet they must determine the criteria that will be used to select a person for superintendent who will run the district.

Superintendents actually work in the position and understand which characteristics and qualifications are most needed.

This study compared perceptions of school board members and superintendents in Arizona on the characteristics and qualifications for the position of superintendent.

A survey instrument was used to compile data in order to identify the differences in the perceptions of both groups.

The study reports results of surveys from two subgroups.

Fifty-four subjects responded to the school board member group and fifty-eight subjects responded from the superintendent group. Oral interviews were conducted with members of each group in order to validate results of the surveys.

Results from both groups indicated sex, age and ethnicity made little or no difference in the selection of the superintendent.

Significant mean differences were found in perceptions due in part to size of district and urban versus rural districts.

The results showed that there are differences in what both groups believe are important criteria for superintendent selection.

It is intended that the results of this study will be used for the purpose of identifying recruitment characteristic and qualifications for superintendents based upon school district needs.

It is the further intent that this study will provide an avenue for training school board members for future superintendent selections.