Giving Compass' Take:

• Naaz Modan highlights the persistent lack of diversity in superintendents across school districts in the United States.

• How does the overrepresentation of white male superintendents reflect similar trends in the business world? What can we do to improve representation? 

• Learn more about promoting diversity in education.

While the racial and ethnic diversity of districts in which superintendents work has increased in recent decades, new numbers from AASA, The School Superintendents Association, suggest the nation's superintendents are still overwhelmingly white and male despite gradual shifts in demographics.

The percentage of female superintendents increased slightly in the past decade, from 24.1% in 2010 to 26.68% in 2020 — more than double the percentage of female superintendents documented in 2000 (13.1%).

The number of superintendents of color is increasing much more slowly, with 8.6% of respondents identifying as superintendents of color in 2020, compared to 6% in 2010 and 5% in 2000.

"While the trends are headed in the right direction in education, the low proportion of women and individuals of color in the most powerful district position in education is still troubling," said Chris Tienken, the principal investigator on the study.

Read the full article about white male superintendents by Naaz Modan at Education Dive.