LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations Summer 7-2017 Superintendent Turnover in Guam Alvin Sanga Loyola Marymount University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/etd Part of the Educational Administration and Supervision Commons, and the Educational Leadership Commons Recommended Citation Sanga, Alvin, "Superintendent Turnover in Guam" (2017). LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations. 457. https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/etd/457 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY Superintendent Turnover in Guam by Alvin Sanga A dissertation presented to the Faculty of the School of Education, Loyola Marymount University, in partial satisfaction of the requirement for the degree Doctor of Education 2017 Superintendent Turnover in Guam Copyright © 2017 by Alvin Sanga ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... v ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER 1: Introduction ............................................................................................. 1 Background to the Problem ...................................................................................... 1 Organizational Turnover ........................................................................................... 4 Setting of the Study ................................................................................................... 5 Location ............................................................................................................. 5 Government ....................................................................................................... 6 Community ........................................................................................................ 7 Education ........................................................................................................... 8 History of the Superintendent in Guam ............................................................. 9 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................ 11 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................... 13 Research Questions ................................................................................................. 14 Conceptual Framework ........................................................................................... 14 Overview of the Methodology ................................................................................ 17 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................ 18 Limitations of the Study................................ .......................................................... 19 Definition of Terms ................................................................................................. 20 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 20 Organization of the Dissertation ............................................................................. 21 CHAPTER 2: Review of the Literature ....................................................................... 22 History of the Superintendency .............................................................................. 22 Evolution of the Superintendent Role ..................................................................... 25 Teacher-Scholar ............................................................................................... 25 Communicator ................................................................................................. 27 Business Manager ............................................................................................ 28 Democratic Leader .......................................................................................... 29 Applied Social Scientist .................................................................................. 30 Synthesis of Role Conceptualizations ............................................................. 31 Superintendent Professional Development ............................................................. 32 Superintendent Turnover and Tenure ..................................................................... 34 Turnover Due to School Board Factors ........................................................... 36 Turnover Due to Other Political Factors ......................................................... 38 Turnover Due to Personal Factors ................................................................... 39 Turnover Due to Financial Factors .................................................................. 44 Turnover Due to Stress and Isolation .............................................................. 45 iii CHAPTER 3: Methods .................................................................................................. 48 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................... 48 Research Questions ................................................................................................. 48 Design and Procedures ............................................................................................ 48 Interviews ........................................................................................................ 49 Document Analysis ......................................................................................... 58 CHAPTER 4: Findings .................................................................................................. 61 Study Background ................................................................................................... 61 Interview Data ......................................................................................................... 62 Research Question 1 ........................................................................................ 62 Research Question 2 ........................................................................................ 76 Differing Perceptions ...................................................................................... 79 Reinforcement of the Interview Data through Document Analysis ........................ 83 Guam Public School System Audit ................................................................. 83 Amendments made to GDOE Policies after the Audit .................................... 89 Themes .................................................................................................................... 90 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 93 CHAPTER 5: Discussion ............................................................................................... 95 Summary of Findings .............................................................................................. 97 Discussion of Themes ............................................................................................. 98 Lack of Positive and Collaborative Relationship Need with the Board ........... 98 The Board’s Misunderstanding of Roles and Responsibilities ......................... 98 Problem with the Large Board .......................................................................... 99 Difficulty with the Budget .............................................................................. 100 Double Income Proving to Be Detrimental .................................................... 101 Higher Compensation Expected ..................................................................... 102 Political Pressure Strangles the Budget .......................................................... 102 Frequency of Disasters Impacts the Budget .................................................... 103 Lack of Formal Preparation Programs ............................................................ 104 Lack of Internal Professional Development ................................................... 104 Future Research .................................................................................................... 104 Implications for Practices in Guam ....................................................................... 105 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 108 APPENDICES A: Superintendent Demographic Survey ....................................................................... 110 B: Superintendent Turnover Interview Protocol ............................................................ 112 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 114 iv LIST OF TABLES Table 1. List of Superintendents of Guam Public School System ................................... 11 Table 2. Summary of Demographic Survey – Profile of Participants ............................