Rachel S White
Email: rachel.white@austin.utexas.edu
Rachel White is an associate professor of Educational Leadership & Policy at The University of Texas at Austin and a fellow on the L.D. Haskew Centennial Professorship in Public School Administration. She is the founder and principal investigator of The Superintendent Lab, a central hub for data, research, insights and innovation on the school district superintendency and home to the National Longitudinal Superintendent Database. White is also a faculty in residence with AASA, The School Superintendents Association.
Prior to joining UT Austin, White was an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Old Dominion University. White is a former local school board member/vice president and high school cross country and track & field coach. She also previously served as a policy analyst for the Michigan Association for School Administrators and as the associate director of policy and advocacy for The Ohio College Access Network.
White's research centers around issues of power and voice in education policymaking and implementation processes. Currently, much of her work focuses on superintendent labor markets, superintendent mobility and attrition, and how superintendents navigate politically contentious spaces. Her research has been published in the highest citation impact journals in education leadership and policy research including Educational Researcher, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Education Policy, Journal of Educational Administration, Educational Administration Quarterly, AERA Open, Teachers College Record, Education and Urban Society, and Leadership and Policy in Schools.
White has published book chapters in The Oxford Handbook on U.S. Education Law and The Handbook on the Politics of Education, as well as articles in editorially-reviewed journals widely read by education leaders including Phi Delta Kappan and Education Next. She regularly appears as a commentator on issues related to education policy and leadership in national and regional media outlets, including Education Week, EdSurge, Ed Source, The Conversation, Governing Magazine, NPR, The Washington Post and others.
White's research has been funded by The Spencer Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education's Institute for Education Sciences. She has also been nationally recognized for her research contributions. For example, she was the recipient of the William J. Davis Award for most outstanding article published in Educational Administration Quarterly, the University Council for Educational Administration's Jack A. Culbertson Award for an outstanding junior educational leadership professor in recognition of significant contributions to the field of educational leadership, and the Association for Education Finance and Policy's New Scholar Award.
Ph.D. in Education Policy, Michigan State University, 2017
M.A. in Education Policy and Leadership, The Ohio State University, 2012
B.A. in Public Policy, University of Michigan, 2010
Examines issues of power and voice in education policy making and implementation processes, with a focus on public school district superintendents and school boards.
Member, Development Awards Committee, UT College of Education (2025)
Chair, Research on the Superintendency SIG, AERA (2025)
Secretary, Politics of Education Association, AERA (2025)
Member, Regional Advisory Committee (RAC): Appalachia, U.S. Department of Education (2023 - 2024)
Section Chair: Governance, Politics, and Intergovernmental Relations, Program Planning Committee, American Educational Research Association (2023 - 2025)
Member, Editorial Board, High School Journal (2022)
Member, Davis Award Selection Committee, Educational Administration Quarterly/University Council of Educational Administration (2022)
Member, Editorial Board, American Educational Research Journal (2020)
Member, Outstanding Dissertation Award Committee, Politics of Education Association (2020 - 2022)
Member At-Large, Governing Board, Learning and Teaching in Educational Leadership (LTEL) Special Interest Group, American Educational Research Association (2019 - 2022)
Member, Publications Committee, Politics of Education Association (2018 - 2022)
Chair, Program Committee, Politics of Education Association (2018 - 2020)
Miller, L.M.., Sachs, E.N.., White, R... & Player, D.W.. (2026). Retaining from away and homegrown teachers in rural schools: Supportive working conditions, community connectedness, and person-organization fit theory. Teaching and teacher Education, 172(105380). doi:.
Rogers, J.., White, R.S.., Shand, R.. & Kahne, J.. (2026). The cost of conflict: Examining the fiscal impact of culturally divisive conflict on U.S. K-12 schools. Peabody Journal of Education, 101(1), 6-19. doi:.
White, R.S.., McKenzie, L.., Rowan, R.., Little, M.. & Drake, T.. (2025). Motivation for working to close superintendent gender gaps: Effective leadership early childhood education. Educational Researcher, 55(3), 216-219. doi:.
White, R.S.. (2025). Superintendents beliefs about and engagement in state education policymaking. Educational Policy, 40(1), 106-145. doi:.
Malin, J.R.., Acheampong, E.., Abodunrin, A.S.., White, R.S.. & Evans, M.P.. (2025). United States superintendents experiences with professional networks and other social supports during times of crisis. Journal of Educational Administration. doi:.
Miller, L.., Soland, J.., Lipscomb, D.., Player, D.. & White, R.. (2025). Latent school-level classes of teacher working conditions in Virginia: Description, teacher preferences, and contextual factors. AERA Open, 11. doi:.
Miller, L.., White, R.S.., Player, D.. & Reynolds, A.L.. (2025). Conditions for continuity: How school working conditions shape teacher retention and job satisfaction. Educational Review, 78(5), 672-694. doi:.
Long, D.., White, R.S.. & Henderson, J.. (2025). Implementing climate change education in the United States: A meso-level analysis of school systems. Policy Futures in Education, 24(2), 224-239. doi:.
White, R.S.. & Jerman, J.. (2025). Illustrating the complexity and power of a national longitudinal superintendent database through exploring national trends in superintendent mobility. Journal of Educational Administration, 63(4), 302-314. doi:.
White, R.S.. (2025). Superintendents. Association of Education Finance and Policy Live Handbook. https://livehandbook.org/k-12-education/workforce-administrators/other/superintendents/.
Bridgeforth, J.C.. & White, R.S.. (2025). School boards. Association of Education Finance and Policy Live Handbook. https://livehandbook.org/k-12-education/governance-of-schools/school-boards/.
Rogers, J.., White, R.S.., Shand, R.. & Kahne, J.. (2024). The cost of conflict: The fiscal impact of culturally divisive conflict on public schools in the United States.. https://idea.gseis.ucla.edu/publications/files/costs-of-conflict-report.
White, R.S.. (2023). Ceilings made of glass and leaving en masse?: Examining superintendent gender gaps and turnover over time across the United States. Educational Researcher, 52(5), 272-285. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.3102/0013189X231163139. doi:.
White, R.S.., Schneider, J.. & Mavrogordato, M.. (2023). bELonging: Do English learners feel included?. AERA Open, 9. doi:.
Collins, J.., Gottlieb, D.., Knight-Abowitz, K.., Murray, B.., Saultz, A.., Schneider, J.. & White, R.S.. (2023). Democracy in action: School districts must function as democratic institutions to preserve American ideals of democracy. American School Board Journal, October. https://www.nsba.org/ASBJ/2023/october/democracy-in-action.
White, R.S.., Jerman, J.., Fischer, H.., Lovegrove, M.., McDonald, A.. & Paztrick-Rodriguez, A.. (2023). Institutional structures as mediators for diversifying state education policymaking bodies. The Educational Forum, 88(1), 107-131. doi:.
White, R.S.., Evans, M.. & Malin, J.. (2023). The unique (and not-so-unique) political battles of suburban superintendents.. Phi Delta Kappan, 104(5), 6-10. doi:.
White, R.S.. (2023). The Crossover- Bookshelf: Kappan authors on their favorite reads.. Phi Delta Kappan, 104(5), 69. doi:.
White, R.S.. (2023). Trial and error and trudging up a hill: Superintendents beliefs about and engagement in state education policymaking., EdWorkingPaper 23-81. doi:.
Miller, L.C.., Soland, J.., Lipscomb, D.., Player, D.W.. & White, R.S.. (2023). Latent classes of teacher working conditions in Virginia: Description, teacher preferences, and contextual factors, EdWorkingPaper 23-89. doi:.
Schwartz, N.., Kang, H.., Loeb, S.., Grissom, B.., Bartanen, B.., Cheatham, J.., Chi, O.., Donaldson, M.., Lemos, R.F.., Mellon, G.., Moffit, S.., Nurshatayeva, A.., Owens, J.., Pinker, E.., White, R.S.. & Zimmerman, S.. (2023). Studying the superintendency: A call for research. https://annenberg.brown.edu/publications/studying-superintendency-call-research.
White, R.S.., Evans, M.. & Malin, J.M.. (2023). Superintendent job-seeking behaviors: Types of positions sought and reasons for job-seeking. https://education.indiana.edu/research/centers/ceep/education-policy/policy-briefs/2023/superintendent-job-seeking-behaviors.html.
White, R.S.., Evans, M.. & Malin, J.. (2023). Superintendents experiencing threats and contention. https://education.indiana.edu/research/centers/ceep/education-policy/policy-briefs/2023/superintendents-experiencing-threats-and-contention.html.
Schneider, J.., ., .. & White, R.S.. (2023). Educational accountability 3.0: Beyond ESSA. https://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/resource-document-beyond-essa.
White, R.S.., Stitzlein, S.., Knight-Abowtiz, K.., Gottlieb, D.. & Schneider, J.. (2022). Are locally elected boards really failing?. Education Next, 23(1). https://www.educationnext.org/are-locally-elected-school-boards-really-failing-work-in-progress-multiple-purposes-forum/.
White, R.S.. (2021). Whats in a first name? Americas K-12 public school district superintendent gender gap.. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 22(2), 385-401. doi:.
Schneider, J.., White, R.S.., Carey, A.. & Piazza, P.. (2021). Student experience outcomes in racially integrated schools: Looking beyond test scores in six districts.. Education and Urban Society, 54(3), 330-360. doi:.
Schneider, J.., Noonan, J.., White, R.S.., Gagnon, D.. & Carey, A.. (2021). Adding student voice to the mix: Perception surveys and state accountability systems. AERA Open, 7. doi:.
White, R.S.. & Lineburg, M.. (2021). School boards and superintendents should work in concert.. Phi Delta Kappan, 103(1). doi:.
Schneider, J.., Carey, A.., Piazza, P.. & White, R.S.. (2020). School integration in Massachusetts: Racial diversity and state accountability.
Polikoff, M.S.., Campbell, S.., Korn, S.., White, R.S.., Wrabel, S.., Hardaway, T.., Gasparian, H.. & Koedel, C.. (2020). Curriculum counts: Math and science textbook adoptions and effects.
White, R.S.. & Mavrogordato, M.. (2019). Educators use of policy resources to understand English learner policies.. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 18(4), 560-590. doi:.
Mavrogordato, M.. & White, R.S.. (2019). Leveraging policy implementation for social justice: How school leaders shape educational opportunity when implementing policy for English learners. Educational Administration Quarterly, 56(1), 3-45. doi:.
White, R.S.. & Polikoff, M.. (2019). The properties of non-academic school accountability measures in the CORE districts.
Schneider, J.., Jacobsen, R.., White, R.S.. & Gehlbach, H.. (2018). The (mis)measures of schools: How data affect stakeholder knowledge and perceptions of quality.. Teachers College Record, 120(5), 1-40.
White, R.S.. (2018). Who do state policy makers listen to? The case of teacher evaluation.. Phi Delta Kappan, 99(8), 13-18. doi:.
Bell, C.A.., White, R.S.. & White, M.E.. (2018). A systems view of Californias teacher education pipeline.
Mavrogordato, M.. & White, R.S.. (2017). Reclassification variation: How policy implementation guides the process of exiting students from English learner status.. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 39(2), 281-310. doi:.
Saultz, A.., White, R.S.., McEachin, A.., Fusarelli, L.D.. & Fusarelli, B.C.. (2017). Teacher quality, distribution and equity under ESSA. Journal of School Leadership, 27(5). doi:.
Schneider, J.., Jacobsen, R.., White, R.S.. & Gehlbach, H.. (2017). Building a better measure of school quality. Phi Delta Kappan, 98(7), 43-48. doi:.
White, R.S.. (2017). Teacher evaluation post-ESSA: Implications for districts and whose voice is heard in the policy decisionmaking process.. Politics of Education Association Bulletin.
White, R.S.., Martin, K.., Scorsone, E.. & Bowman, K.. (2015). Developing an early warning system for Michigans schools, White Paper.
White, R.S.., Martin, K.., Scorsone, E.. & Bowman, K.. (2015). Knowledgeable navigation to avoid the iceberg: Considerations in proactively addressing school districts fiscal stress in Michigan.
Jacobsen, R.., White, R.S.. & Reckhow, S.. (2014). Cultivating political powerhouses: TFA corps members experiences that shape local political engagement.. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 24(18). doi:.
White, R.S.., DeMatthews, D.., Shin, J.. & Alwyard, A.. (n.d.). Challenges and opportunities in measuring superintendent impact. Brookings Brief. (View)
Short Policy Report Award - American Educational Research Association Division L (Educational Policy and Politics) (2025)
Fellow, L.D. Haskew Centennial Professorship in Public School Administration - University of Texas at Austin College of Education (2024)
Arie L. & Michael T. Nettles Award for Outstanding Research Award Recipient - University of Tennessee-Knoxville (2024)
Jack A. Culbertson Award Recipient - University Council for Educational Administration (2023)
EUReCA Faculty Research Mentor Award - University of Tennessee-Knoxville (2023)
Early Career Award - Education Policy Collaborative (2022)
Women of Achievement Volunteerism Award - YWCA of Van Wert County (2022)
William J. Davis Award for Most Outstanding Article Published by Educational Administration Quarterly - University Council for Educational Administration (2021)
Most Collaborative Grant Award - Old Dominion University Darden College of Education & Professional Studies (2021)
Outstanding Reviewer of the Year, American Educational Research Journal - American Educational Research Association (2021)
Outstanding Reviewer of the Year, Educational Researcher - American Educational Research Association (2020)
New Investigator for Grants and Contracts Award - Old Dominion University Darden College of Education & Professional Studies (2020)
ODU Reign On Faculty Recognition Award - Old Dominion University (2020)
Outstanding Dissertation Award - American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division L (2018)
Dissertation of the Year Award - AERA Politics of Education Association (2018)
New Scholar Award - Association for Education Finance and Policy (2017)
Database shows which states gain, lose female superintendents
Becoming school superintendent in an age of uncertainty and anxiety
Culture wars divert millions of dollars from Texas schools. It must stop.
Culture wars divert millions of dollars from Texas schools. It must stop.
Californias culturally divisive conflict is costing schools too much
When is it time for a superintendent to quit? Here are some signs.
At six months with Richmond as interim, whats next for MSCS leadership?
When school boards and superintendents split, hefty payouts follow.
Women, people of color still underrepresented in superintendent ranks.
"Use it or lose it" (Episode). Have You Heard Podcast.
Unproven school board governance training in Texas is all hat and no cattle.
This research shows the full scope of superintendent turnover.
Education department cuts threaten to deepen local schools woes.
Research is shedding new light on superintendents to help them succeed.
Schools take a $3 billion hit from the culture wars. Heres how it breaks down.
Cost of conflict: Schools now spend billions dealing with division
Schools spent $3.2 billion on conflict over divisive issues in 2023-24.
New report details cost of conflict for districts.
How the culture wars are costing schools billions.
US public schools burned up nearly $3.2bn fending off rightwing culture attacks report.
New research puts a cost on school board conflict: $3.2 billion last year alone.
Current trends in the superintendent workforce: An interview with Rachel White.
The average salary for Louisiana superintendents is $169,000. See how much each one makes.
Superintendent turnover in Montana is among the highest in the nature, researchers say
Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial Board: Why superintendents really matter now more than ever.
Superintendent vacancies are high. Is loosening requirements a good idea?
Feeling pressure from politicians and parents, more superintendents quit.
Over 80% of women leaders in education experience bias, survey shows.
Women encounter steeper climb in educational administration (TV special report for America Forward).
Why is 1 in 5 supes named Michael, John, David, Jeff, James, Chris, Brian, Robert, Mark or Steve?
Advice from 8 women superintendents for those following in their footsteps.
Advice from former superintendents on retaining those still on the job.
Memphis superintendent search nears close with final set of candidate interviews.
Political pressures and controversies driving superintendent turnover nationwide.
Education Week: 10 education studies you should know from 2023.
Salaries, benefits increase as school superintendents become harder to find.
Threats, stress and politics pushing school superintendents out the door.
Should school boards go local or look afar for the next superintendent? That depends.
Should school board members be paid? More districts are trying it out.
High pace of superintendent turnover continues, data show.
More superintendents are quitting as school year begins.
States are making a flurry of school policies. Why arent superintendents more involved?
Washington Post Perspective: How to fix the damage done to schools by federal school reform laws.
Why are so many school superintendents leaving their job?
Three things we know about superintendents.
Theres a good chance your superintendent has one of these 15 names.
What are the odds your superintendent is named Michael, John or David?
A lauded superintendents retires after years of crises: I dont want to become bitter.