MAINTAINING THE PERSONAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS OF RURAL SUPERINTENDENTS

Purpose: Several studies directly related to wellness in leadership were reviewed, but few dealt with superintendent well-being and even fewer addressed rural superintendent wellness. The purpose of this study was (a) to identify common occupational demands and challenges experienced by rural superintendents in Texas, which have emerged as stressors; (b) to investigate personal health and wellness; and (c) to identify tools, skills, and coping mechanisms that correlate with job satisfaction, and demographic and biographic variables. Research Design: Using an exploratory-descriptive research design with quantitative analysis, this study included both traditional statistical reasoning methods and Grice’s (2014) Oriented Observation Modeling (OOM). Data from 113 rural Texas superintendents were examined using the traditional calculation of effect size, p-values, and Cramer’s V, and the OOM analyses for data comparison. Findings: Most participating rural superintendents reported being in good to excellent health, with few who reported having a major medical illness based on job stress. Additionally, all participants reported some level of stress while serving as a superintendent. Moreover, all participants reported talking to colleagues or other superintendents to some degree or another as a coping mechanism. A large portion of rural Texas superintendents identified as being quite and extremely satisfied with their jobs. Implications: This study could assist practitioners, professional organizations, and universities in rethinking preparation programs. Moreover, universities could deliver programs that prepare aspiring superintendents for rural settings and instills ways to promote increased job satisfaction.