Just five years ago, Education Week decried the high turnover rate among school superintendents as “the most recent educational crisis” in the nation. Education specialists said schools could not bring about needed reforms without stability in the superintendent’s office.

New Jersey public schools faced similar obstacles in retaining school administrators, with more than one in five school districts changed superintendents in the 2001-2002 school year alone.

But this school year, the state’s school superintendent turnover rate, soaring at 21 percent four years ago, has been nearly halved to 11.4 percent.

Critical Decision “Hiring a superintendent is, far and away, the most important decision a school board will make,” said Edwina M. Lee, NJSBA executive director. The Association conducts more than half of the state’s superintendent searches annually.

“The school board sets the goals for the district, but the superintendent is the person working in the district on a day-to-day basis who is in charge of achieving those goals,” Lee said.

“It is impossible for schools to improve unless communities can attract and retain quality leaders.”

Trends Over the past two school years, 28 percent of superintendent vacancies were filled by internal candidates, as opposed to only 14 percent in 2000-2001. NJSBA, which provides training programs to school boards, has developed a “Board-Superintendent Institute” where school boards learn to work effectively and strengthen the relationship with their chief school administrator.

Retirement Factor An aging school workforce remains a major factor in superintendent turnover, as retirements continue to account for the largest number of superintendent vacancies. Last year, 57 percent of the superintendent turnover in New Jersey was due to retirements.

Other factors include better teacher pay, which might reduce the incentive for teachers to enter into administration to increase their salaries; and the challenges that come with a demanding, year-round position of a school administrator.

In addition, superintendents who want to work in New Jersey need to take tests and go through a year of mentoring—a process that may discourage experienced out-of-state administrators from applying for New Jersey positions.