The superintendent of schools, also known as the superintendent of education, superintendent of public instruction,secretary of education, or chief school administrator, is a statewide office responsible for overseeing and coordinating the state's elementary and secondary schools.
Within the U.S., school superintendents are usually selected by members of the particular district's school board. Often, the superintendent sits on the board as a non-voting member. School boards may consist of either appointed or elected members. Likewise, the superintendent's position also varies by state.
HIGHLIGHTS
The position of superintendent exists in all 50 states; it is elected in 12 and appointed in the remaining 38.
Of those states where the superintendent is appointed, power of appointment is given to the state Board of Education in 18, to the governor in 18, and to the state Board of Regents in two.
In 2023, state superintendent salaries ranged from $337,006 in Maryland to $85,000 in Arizona.
Some states may require a candidate for the superintendency to hold a Ph.D., Ed.D., or similar terminal degree. An active teaching certification is also a common requirement.
An appointed superintendent may have a set term and thus be subject to reappointment. In addition to this, appointed superintendents serve at the pleasure of the appointing body or official and may be fired or asked to resign. For instance, in August of 2010, New JerseyGovernorChris Christie dismissed the state's Commissioner of Education.[1]
Current officeholders
List of current superintendents of schools
The table below lists all superintendents of schools by state. It also shows any vacancies, if applicable.
Although superintendents of schools are appointed in the majority of states, 12 states hold elections for the office. In those states where the state superintendent is appointed, 18 give the power of appointment to the governor, while 18 give the power of appointment to the state Board of Education. The remaining two states—New York and Rhode Island—give the power of appointment to the state university's Board of Regents.
Although the position of state superintendent is nonpartisan in 43 states, eight of the 12 states where the office is elected hold partisan elections.
According to compensation figures for 2023 compiled by the Council of State Governments in the Book of the States, the highest salary for a state superintendent was $337,006 in Maryland, while the lowest was $85,000 in Arizona. To view the compensation of a specific superintendent, hover your mouse cursor over the state.
Wisconsin was the only state with a scheduled superintendent election in the 2013 electoral cycle. Incumbent superintendentTony Evers ran for and won re-election to the nonpartisan post. He defeated one challenger, Republican state Rep. Don Pridemore, in the general election on April 2, 2013, earning approximately 61 percent of the vote.
2012
Five states held scheduled superintendent elections in the 2012 electoral cycle: Indiana, Montana, North Dakota, North Carolina and Washington. Only North Dakota Superintendent Wayne Sanstead opted not to seek re-election. Kirsten Baesler was elected to succeed Sanstead, while three of the four incumbents were re-elected on November 6, 2012. The exception was Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett (R), who was defeated by challenger Glenda Ritz (D) in the general election.
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