Career paths and perceived barriers to the superintendency in the state of Texas: Significant factors and critical characteristics in superintendent selection

Edward Lawrence Gabaldon, University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive-exploratory study was to examine the career paths of Texas superintendents and the barriers they perceive to attainment of the superintendency, as a function of community type and the ethnicity, gender, and age of the superintendent. The two main research questions that guided this study were: (1) What are the career paths of school superintendents in Texas? and, (2) What are the perceived barriers to attainment of the superintendency in Texas? A series of questions were also asked regarding the effects of ethnicity, gender, age, and type of community in which the school district is located on the career paths and perceived barriers to attainment of the superintendency in the state of Texas? Thirteen different barriers were identified in the survey. Respondents identified five of the barriers as being perceived as important. Those factors were high amount of stress associated with the job, high pressure from the state mandated accountability system, lack of stability in position/job security, the superintendency increasingly becoming an undesirable position, and lack of experience in certain levels of the career path. Three barriers (age-too old, age-too young, and lack of a doctoral degree) were identified as not being factors to attainment of the superintendency. The top three barriers to attainment of the superintendency and the top three barriers listed as not a factor were the same for both White, non-Hispanic respondents and for minority respondents. No statistically significant differences were found in the perceived barriers to attainment of the superintendency as a function for ethnicity, gender, age, or community type. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Subject Area

School administration

Recommended Citation

Gabaldon, Edward Lawrence, "Career paths and perceived barriers to the superintendency in the state of Texas: Significant factors and critical characteristics in superintendent selection" (2003). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI3130236.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI3130236

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