In this episode, Dr. Carrie Sampson, a school board researcher, examines the critical intersections of education research, leadership dynamics, and policy shifts. She highlights how the vital yet under-resourced and under-studied field of school board research faces hurdles due to a decline in federal funding and the disruption of longitudinal data sets. We explore the nuanced, often complex board-superintendent relationship and how its stability—or lack thereof—impacts district success. Using the hyper-competitive landscape of Arizona for context, the discussion analyzes the effects of universal school choice on local democratic governance, family engagement, and community investment. We discuss moving beyond standard metrics to redefine what it truly means to be a successful school in an era defined by market-driven competition and assessment scores.
Resources:
Camarillo, E. (2026). CPS Board calls on Gov. Pritzker to reject federal program that funds private school tuition. WBEZ Chicago.
The Collaborative on Political Leadership in the Superintendency.
Collins, J. (2021). Does the meeting style matter? The effects of exposure to participatory and deliberative school board meetings. American Political Science Review.
Houston, D. & Hartney, M. (2025). Who’s on board? School boards and political representation in an age of conflict. Fordham Institute.
Sampson, C. (2019). (Im)Possibilities of Latinx school board members’ educational leadership toward equity. Educational Administration Quarterly.
Sampson, C. & Bertrand, M. (2022). This is civil disobedience. I’ll continue.”: The racialization of school board meeting rules. Journal of Education Policy.
Sampson, C., Garcia, D., Hom, M., & Bertrand, M. (2022). Open enrollment and disrupting the political ecology of U.S. public education. Peabody Journal of Education.
Sampson, C. (2024). Navigating school board politics: A framework for advancing equity. Harvard Education Press.
Sampson, C. (2026). Why school boards remain a central part of the Black community’s long struggle for equity. Black Education Research Center, Teachers College at Columbia University, blog.
