Chapter 6: The Relationship of Superintendent Work, Board Relations, and A Regulatory Environment On Superintendent Health and Stress

Superintendents report the most stress in dealing with changing state and federal regulations, inadequate school finance, and student performance accountability. Nearly 60% of respondents identified relations with school boards and the demands of special interest groups as moderate to extreme stressors. Most stressors were similar across race and gender demographics. However, state and federal stressors were felt more strongly by rural and urban superintendents than by suburban superintendents.

At least one health condition was reported by 71% of superintendents and 63% reported that they developed at least one of their health conditions during the superintendency. There were statistically significant relationships for white males and females between stress reported and number of health conditions This was not true for female and male superintendent of color.