Leadership Matters - April 2013
Stress and Illinois superintendents Challenges facing superintendents today are numerous, complicated, and potenƟally debilitaƟng. In 2000, superintendents reported that their jobs were more reflects the percepƟons of Illinois superintendents toward these factors. When taken in context with the survey quesƟon: my job as superintendent is stressful , an unmistakable picture of the factors that cause stress for superintendents is presented, as well as the overwhelming response (94.3 percent) that the job is stressful. Dr. Curt Simonson is the Superintendent of Tri‐Valley CUSD 3 in Downs. He was previously the Superintendent of Liberty CUSD 2 in Liberty and was the Principal of Pikeland Community School in PiƩsfield for 10 years. His career started in PiƩsfield, where he also taught American History and coached for 17 years. He has spent 36 years as an educator in three school districts. This arƟcle is a brief summary of his December 2012 doctoral dissertaƟon Ɵtled “The
complex and difficult than a decade earlier. Superintendents cited the increased complexiƟes of No Child LeŌ Behind , shrinking federal dollars, special educaƟon, state funding issues, state test scores, and state standards as areas that inhibited superintendent
RelaƟonship of Stress and the Physical Wellness of Illinois Superintendents.” The full dissertaƟon can be accessed by clicking here .
Illinois superintendents were also asked the methods that they uƟlized to manage stress. The top five methods of managing stress were: family acƟviƟes (88.7%), walking (68.9%), prayer (68.5%), watching television (64.0%), and eaƟng (53.7%). The methods in bold print are acƟve methods of managing stress and the others are passive methods of managing stress. In short, those Causes of Stress
performance. Due to the stressors that resulted from these challenges, quesƟons were raised of the effect on a superintendent’s life, health, and job performance. At an Illinois AssociaƟon of School Administrators (IASA) division meeƟng in Spring 2010, IASA ExecuƟve Director Dr. Brent Clark stated, “There is no job worth your life.” He suggested that, “In these Ɵmes you need to reach out and network, share your concerns, thoughts, and observaƟons with your peers.” Illinois superintendents had seen three suicides and three fatal heart aƩacks from July through April of that school year. AddiƟonally, research showed that high levels of debilitaƟng stress were criƟcal to superintendent personal and professional success, and even their survival. In the summer of 2012, a study Ɵtled “The RelaƟonship of Stress and the Physical Wellness of Illinois Superintendents” was conducted. The results of this study showed a definite link between superintendent stress and physical wellness. Data from this study indicated that an overwhelming majority of responding superintendents (94.3%) believed that their job was extremely stressful. Research on stress proved that leŌ unchecked, stress resulted in heart disease, high blood pressure, heart aƩack, cancer, obesity, and stroke. Illinois superintendents also were asked to idenƟfy the factors that caused stress in their lives. The following table
that used acƟve methods of stress management had far fewer concerns for the above menƟoned health issues, while those using passive methods of stress management had greater concern for the same health issues. One of the key findings from this study reflected that the most effecƟve way of managing stress in the workplace was through acƟve methods of stress management.
Changing state and federal regulaƟons (WC) Inadequate school finance (WC) Time required by the job (WC) Insignificant demands (WC) RelaƟons with the union during collecƟve bargaining (PR) NCLB/Race to the Top/ ESEA (WC) RelaƟons with the board of educaƟon (PR) Student test scores (WC) Demands of special interest groups (WC)
92.0%
86.6%
82.0%
77.0%
71.7%
71.0%
68.4%
67.4%
66.0%
* WC = Working condiƟons; PR = Professional RelaƟons; EC = EvaluaƟon and Contract
12
Made with FlippingBook