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Alternative title

The Impact of School Board Member Sociopolitical Ideology on the Role of the Superintendent

Date of Award

Spring 2025

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Department or Program Affiliation

Western Washington Doctorate Program

Degree Name

Doctorate of Education

Department

Education Leadership and Inclusive Teaching

First Advisor

Robertson, Wayne Thomas

Second Advisor

Larsen, Donald

Third Advisor

Irish, Justin

Abstract

This qualitative study explores how the sociopolitical ideologies of school board members influence the role, responsibilities, and leadership capacity of public school superintendents. Grounded in critical theory, this research examines how dominant political narratives increasingly shape local education governance. Using Washington State as a case study, the project includes a comprehensive literature review and semi-structured interviews with current superintendents and state-level leaders from the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA).

Findings reveal that superintendents are navigating an increasingly politicized environment marked by ideological division, legal ambiguity, and heightened community scrutiny. Six key themes emerged: a profound personal commitment to public service, intensifying sociopolitical pressures, changing board-superintendent relationships, the superintendent’s evolving role as a legal and political interpreter, the strategic use of communication and framing, and the critical need for peer networks and professional development. Participants described a shift away from traditional instructional leadership toward political navigation, often requiring superintendents to mediate between board ideologies and student needs.

This study highlights the urgent need for updated leadership preparation, emphasizing sociopolitical literacy, ethical clarity, and communication skills. It calls for enhanced supports that equip superintendents to lead with integrity in a landscape shaped by national political movements, contested educational content, and polarized governance. Ultimately, this research underscores the superintendent’s role as both an educational leader and a mediator of democracy, advocating for student well-being amid increasing ideological complexity.

Type

Text

Keywords

superintendent, school board, sociopolitical, critical theory, governance, partisan Politics, DEI, conflict, legal, navigation, leadership, ideology

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

1521413242

Subject – LCSH

School superintendents--Washington (State); School board-superintendent relationships--Washington (State); Educational leadership--Washington (State); Critical theory; Ideology

Geographic Coverage

Washington (State)

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

doctoral dissertations

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

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