Tennessee school districts are seeing a typical level of superintendent turnover this year, according to the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS).¶
TOSS Assistant Executive Director Barry Olhausen said that this year’s number of districts seeing either new superintendents or leaders leaving their positions this year is “neither really a high number nor a low number.”¶
That puts Tennessee in a relatively stable position compared with other states. National estimates put annual superintendent turnover between 17 percent and 23 percent, and Tennessee’s highest turnover year saw 27 superintendents leave their jobs, which is about 18 percent.¶
“Even at our highest, we were still lower than the national average on turnover,” Olhausen said.¶
The Benefits of Stability
For school districts focused on improving student performance, Olhausen said keeping leaders in place can make a difference. Superintendents are responsible for implementing long-term academic plans, managing district operations, and working with teachers, principals, and school boards to execute these strategies.¶
Olhausen emphasized that superintendents need time to build support for changes and carry out long-term plans. When district leaders change frequently, it can become harder to maintain staff morale and keep everyone focused on the same goals.¶
He also said Tennessee appears to have a strong pipeline of educators moving into superintendent positions.¶
“There is only one (new superintendent) on my list that came from outside the school district, and that guy actually grew up in the school district and had taught and coached there (previously),” Olhausen said.¶
Olhausen has not seen any signs that districts are struggling to find people interested in becoming superintendents. TOSS and the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) work together on a program for educators preparing to become superintendents. Participants are often principals or district administrators who receive training in areas such as leadership, finance, and personnel management. Once they become superintendents, TOSS connects them with experienced district leaders who serve as mentors. The goal is to give new superintendents someone they can turn to as they learn the job.¶
Olhausen said that support, along with state policies, has helped drive the academic progress Tennessee has seen in recent years.¶
“You have to have strong leadership at the local level, but then you have to have the framework coming from the state to help you know where you're going,” Olhausen said.¶
Olhausen said the demands on school systems have changed in recent years, particularly with the increased use of technology, but the basic goals have not.¶
The bottom line is always students first and students' well-being, and students' academic achievement,” Olhausen said.¶
