Asking Policy Questions of Political Elites: A Descriptive Comparison of Superintendent and School Board Member Survey Response Patterns in Tennessee

Amanda Frasıer

doi:10.30828/real.1670988

Asking Policy Questions of Political Elites: A Descriptive Comparison of Superintendent and School Board Member Survey Response Patterns in Tennessee

Abstract

In the United States, superintendents and school board members serve an important role in the local implementation and enactment of policies in schools. Recently, these roles have received increased attention, both in media and in research, due to a nationwide trend of increased partisanship and focus on nationalized issues. However, conducting studies of members of the politically elite can be challenging. This mixed-methods descriptive case study investigates the accessibility and response patterns of superintendents and school board members in Tennessee through a survey of policy perspectives administered in Spring 2023. Overall, superintendents were more accessible and more willing to begin the survey; however, they were also more likely to end the survey or skip potentially contentious questions once the survey required respondents to share policy perspectives.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Education Management, Educational Administration, Supervision, Planning and Economics (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Amanda Frasıer ^*
0000-0001-5870-1799
United States

Publication Date

March 30, 2026

Submission Date

April 7, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1670988

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA96DJ46KB

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Frasıer, A. (2026). Asking Policy Questions of Political Elites: A Descriptive Comparison of Superintendent and School Board Member Survey Response Patterns in Tennessee. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, 11(1), 38-65. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1670988

AMA

1.Frasıer A. Asking Policy Questions of Political Elites: A Descriptive Comparison of Superintendent and School Board Member Survey Response Patterns in Tennessee. REAL. 2026;11(1):38-65. doi:10.30828/real.1670988

Chicago

Frasıer, Amanda. 2026. “Asking Policy Questions of Political Elites: A Descriptive Comparison of Superintendent and School Board Member Survey Response Patterns in Tennessee”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11 (1): 38-65. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1670988.

EndNote

Frasıer A (March 1, 2026) Asking Policy Questions of Political Elites: A Descriptive Comparison of Superintendent and School Board Member Survey Response Patterns in Tennessee. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11 1 38–65.

IEEE

[1]A. Frasıer, “Asking Policy Questions of Political Elites: A Descriptive Comparison of Superintendent and School Board Member Survey Response Patterns in Tennessee”, REAL, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 38–65, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.30828/real.1670988.

ISNAD

Frasıer, Amanda. “Asking Policy Questions of Political Elites: A Descriptive Comparison of Superintendent and School Board Member Survey Response Patterns in Tennessee”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11/1 (March 1, 2026): 38-65. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1670988.

JAMA

1.Frasıer A. Asking Policy Questions of Political Elites: A Descriptive Comparison of Superintendent and School Board Member Survey Response Patterns in Tennessee. REAL. 2026;11:38–65.

MLA

Frasıer, Amanda. “Asking Policy Questions of Political Elites: A Descriptive Comparison of Superintendent and School Board Member Survey Response Patterns in Tennessee”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, vol. 11, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 38-65, doi:10.30828/real.1670988.

Vancouver

1.Amanda Frasıer. Asking Policy Questions of Political Elites: A Descriptive Comparison of Superintendent and School Board Member Survey Response Patterns in Tennessee. REAL. 2026 Mar. 1;11(1):38-65. doi:10.30828/real.1670988