Bruce S. Cooper
Published: 2000
Total Pages: 52
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A new, validated survey instrument, SPEAR (Superintendents' Professional Expectations and Advancement Review), asked top executives about their opinions, skills, perceptions on a range of career concerns, and future interests. Of the nation's 13,500 school superintendents, a random sample of 2,979 was selected, segmented by district size. The overall finding is that superintendents are proud and satisfied with their own accomplishments, but greatly concerned about the prospect of finding talented leaders to take their places. Some of the questions explored in the survey include the following: Is there a crisis in attracting educators into the profession? How satisfied are superintendents with their careers? How mobile are superintendents? What are their professional concerns? What personal concerns and motives do they express? and What skills do they bring to the job? The report provides a brief description of its findings and recommendations as well. The appendix contains the SPEAR questionnaire. (Contains 21 references.) (DFR)