Superintendent and School Board Member Policy Perspectives in Tennessee: A Descriptive Analysis

• In Event: Perspectives on School Board Power and Political Activism

Abstract

This paper explores the policy perspectives of superintendents and school board members with survey data. The survey asked respondents about their level of agreement with policies in specific and general forms and to rank order abstract policy concepts by order of importance. Optional open-ended responses were also collected and serve as a source of qualitative data that can triangulate and elucidate findings. Comparisons were made between respondents by location, by position as a school board member or superintendent, and by political party affiliation. Superintendents and board members significantly disagreed on several policies both in general and specifically. For brevity, two survey items are examined in this proposal. Implications for both district administration and the teaching workforce are discussed.

Author

• Amanda Slaten Frasier, East Tennessee State University