The Revolving Door to the Superintendent’s Office

Good superintendents can be hard to find, and even harder to keep. That’s proving to be the case In Boston.

Brenda Cassellius is stepping down this summer after less than three years at the helm. James Vaznis, who has covered the schools beat for The Boston Globe since 2008, shares insights on how the leadership churn impacts students, families, and staff.

Amid the challenges facing the city’s schools: helping high-need students catch up on learning time lost during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic; reconfiguring the grade levels at some of Boston schools amid an enrollment downturn; and the possible switch to an elected school board instead of the current, mayor-appointed.

Plus, Vaznis offers suggestions for covering superintendent searches, and story ideas for education reporters.