Superintendents Content in Jobs, But Stressed, Too

Today’s school district leaders overwhelmingly have positive relationships with their school boards, tend to be satisfied in their jobs, and think of themselves as effective, according to a survey of more than 1,300 superintendents nationwide released last week.

But many of the respondents believe the No Child Left Behind Act has had a negative impact on education. Many also describe themselves as experiencing “considerable” or “very great” stress in their jobs, which the study suggested was because of the federal law or such strains as tight funding and conflicting community demands.

The survey, conducted on behalf of the American Association of School Administrators, offers a snapshot of characteristics of the nation’s school district leaders. The report was written by professor Thomas E. Glass and Louis A. Franceschini, an educational researcher, both based at the University...