Study Examines Benefits of Mindfulness for Superintendents

Dr. Nancy Coogan

A former superintendent for the Tukwila School District in Tukwila, Washington, Dr. Nancy Coogan has more than two decades of experience in academia. Dr. Nancy Coogan has conducted research on the benefits of mindfulness in the education sector and contributed to multiple publications on the subject.

She co-authored a paper for Scientific Research Publishing titled “Becoming a Mindful Superintendent in a ‘Turnaround’ District,” which examined the positive impacts of mindfulness in leadership positions. Over the course of two years, Dr. Nancy Coogan and her associates studied the experience of a new superintendent charged with leading the turnaround process in an urban district. The role of superintendent involves navigating an abundance of challenges relating to employee turnover and turnaround politics while handling a broad range of responsibilities. Results of the study concluded that while high-stakes accountability can foster change, a mindful approach to serving students and families builds resiliency more efficiently.

Importance of Mindfulness in the Development of District Resilience

Dr. Nancy Coogan

Dr. Nancy Coogan studied educational leadership at Washington State University and has since managed activities at a variety of schools in the position of Superintendent. Over the course of her career, Dr. Nancy Coogan has emphasized research on the positive impact of mindfulness among administrators, educators, and students.

In a paper written for Scientific Research Publishing, Dr. Coogan examined the many challenges faced by superintendents, including consistent employee turnover and policy changes. Over a two-year period, her research specifically focused on a new superintendent tasked with the turnaround of an underperforming district in an urban setting.

Titled “Becoming a Mindful Superintendent in a ‘Turnaround’ District,” the paper looked at the difficulties involved with balancing a variety of diverse, sometimes contradictory, responsibilities, from establishing healthy relationships with school board members and district personnel to overseeing the hiring and firing of campus administrators and teachers. Dr. Coogan’s research concluded that while high-stakes accountability can facilitate change under certain circumstances, mindfulness-driven support of students and their families is the optimal method of nurturing district-wide resilience.