Chapter 9: Assessing Succession-Planning Processes: A Case Study for Improvement

School leaders have been traditionally slow to adopt best practices from other disciplines pertaining to succession planning. A lack of planning can have adverse effects on student achievement, staff well-being and development, and public confidence. To understand current and aspiring leaders’ perspectives on succession planning in four school districts located in the southeastern United States, an instrumental case study was conducted. A total of 10 participants ranging from aspiring leaders to current principal supervisors completed an interview comprised of open-ended questions. Through the use of open and then axial coding, five themes emerged from the data: (a) limited input for future leadership talent identification, (b) a lack of time and resources for proper leadership development, (c) limitations in initiatives and programs, (d) a minimal concern for retention, and (e) a lack of understanding with the specific organizational culture. Data were triangulated with other sources, and an external reader provided additional validity. Each theme is discussed and then recommendations are provided to improve the processes, thereby enhancing the likelihood of having a quality succession plan.