George J. Petersen

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - The dean of California Lutheran University’s School of Education and a panel of superintendents will discuss new research on the jobs of those leading public school districts at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 10.

George J. Petersen will discuss “The American School Superintendent: 2010 Decennial Study” in CLU’s Lundring Events Center. The CLU dean is one of the report’s five authors.

Released in December, the study documented dramatic changes in public school leadership. It revealed that today’s superintendents are more likely to be female, older and drawing a pension while working full time than those 10 years ago. Nearly half are planning to retire in the next five years. The study also reveals the varied challenges faced by superintendents, including the differences between those in charge of small and large school systems.

Other key findings include:

· Their jobs are increasingly diverse as a result of population changes, the explosion of technology, globalization, and increased expectations.
· Minorities become superintendents later and are twice as likely to report discrimination in their pursuit of the job.
· Job satisfaction among superintendents remains very high.

Panel members will then share their experiences and the challenges they face. The superintendents are Jeffrey L. Baarstad of Conejo Valley Unified School District, Julian D. Crocker of the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, Robert P. Fraisse of Somis Union School District, David Gomez of Santa Paula Unified School District, Stanley C. Mantooth of the Ventura County Office of Education, Ellen Smith of Moorpark Unified School District and Trudy Tuttle-Arriaga of Ventura Unified School District.

Sponsored by American Association of School Administrators, the research is part of a series of studies that has been conducted every 10 years since the 1920s. They are the most cited references in school administration literature.

Petersen is the author or coauthor of two books and more than 100 book chapters, articles, research papers and commissioned reports. Much of his scholarly work has focused on district superintendents and their beliefs, roles and work.

Lundring Events Center is in Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, which is located north of Olsen Road near Campus Drive on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Admission is free, but reservations are required by March 4. Contact Joan Jedrzejek at jedrzeje@callutheran.edu or (805) 493-3160.

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