David Kirp writes that the frequent firing and turnover of coaches in the National Basketball Association is destabilizing, and the same is true in the superintendency of school districts. Of course, bad superintendents should be removed, but when the superintendent is doing a good job, they should have time to get something accomplished. The bottom line is that school districts need stability, not churn or upheaval. The same is true for schools, where stability promotes a strong culture and good working relationships. Just as coaches need time, so do principals and teachers.
Kirp is the author of “Improbable Scholars” and is a professor of public policy at Berkeley.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“Of course, bad superintendents should be removed….”
I don’t disagree, but like “bad” teachers, how exactly is that determined and who gets to do the determining?
My experience in Philadelphia is that the powers that be (appointed, not an elected school board) choose to hire people from the outside who have no commitment to the city, don’t know its culture, and have no long term investment in staying the course. Every time things turn over, the new person brings in a lot of their friends at high salaries with the next quick fix and set of corporate consultants offering high-price “solutions” that change nothing. I guess “the grass is always greener” mindset keeps us from hiring qualified school leaders who are residents and know and respect our community of educators and families. God forbid a superintendent actually collaborate with our schools to improve them–if our schools actually “improve” according to their prescribed measurements there would be fewer opportunities for outsiders to “sell” solutions that will “fix” our kids. Can’t let that happen, right?
Yes, I believe that the health of a district and its culture can be judged by the amount of turnover in a district. Looking back in the district where I was a principal, I would have checked into this before accepting my job. I came from a district where superintendents and principals were in their positions for twenty plus years, and truly had the idea that if you did nothing wrong you had nothing to fear. I was stupid.
Maybe, just maybe, teacher turnover, a la Teach For Awhile, is just that much worse for the students than superintendent turnover. Nah, no maybe’s as it’s a sure thing!!!