Superintendent Communication Strategies in an Era of Misinformation

In the United States, public education has become a focal point of the culture wars. Political polarization is a significant challenge for many school districts, and tensions are further exacerbated by the spread of misinformation, especially on social media platforms. This article examines how superintendents work to address the spread of misinformation in their districts. The research draws on data from a mixed-methods study that included a survey of 944 superintendents as well as qualitative interviews with a representative subset of 38 participants. The findings indicate that superintendents across the United States are concerned about the spread of misinformation. Superintendents employ a variety of communication strategies, which are presented as a typology, using the dimensions of scale and formality. Potential implications from the findings are discussed, including the need for professional development opportunities related to more nuanced and proactive strategic communication plans.