Have you considered leaving your leadership position in the past year?
Well, turns out almost half of you reading this might have. According to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), 44% of surveyed Heads of School considered leaving their positions because of stress or burnout during the previous year. And that’s before considering those who may be contemplating a transition for entirely different reasons.
Much has been written about teacher turnover in recent years. Some research suggests that over 40% of new teachers leave the profession within their first five years. Yet the question of leadership turnover, particularly within Christian schools, deserves attention as well.
Perhaps you’ve wondered whether another school would be a better fit. Maybe you’ve grown tired of your environment, parent demands, unreasonable expectations, changes in leadership, or internal politics. Perhaps you’ve questioned whether the personal and family sacrifices are sustainable or whether the grass might be greener elsewhere.
What Does the Data Tell Us?
According to a March 2026 NAIS report, approximately 20% of newly appointed Heads of School leave within their first three years. Among Heads who began their positions during the 2022–23 school year, nearly 24% had already departed by March 2026.
Another NAIS report found that 33% of independent schools had experienced three or more Heads over a ten-year period.
Research examining leadership tenure presents additional findings. The Center for the Advancement of Christian Education (CACE), in its 2023 Cost of Leadership report, references an average school leader tenure of approximately three years.
In a separate analysis, the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA) cites historical research placing the average tenure of a Head of School at approximately six to seven years. These figures reflect different populations and methodologies.
What Do We Really Know About Why Leaders Leave?
While research tells us how frequently school leaders transition, understanding why they leave is more complicated. Comprehensive exit data specific to Christian school administrators is limited, or perhaps, not always honest.
In a 2025 NAIS article, What Heads Want Their Board Chairs to Know, Tekakwitha M. Pernambuco-Wise surveyed 32 current and former Heads. Only 31% described their relationships with their board chairs as excellent. One Head shared:
“I’m not going to complain and broadcast my vulnerability when I’m having a hard time.”
Research from CESA also examines the relationship between Heads and governing boards. Additionally, NAIS research has documented concerns about parents bypassing administrators, trustees becoming involved in operational decisions, and board members navigating competing roles as parents and trustees. These findings raise questions about the influence of families, donors, and informal relationships within private school communities.
A Question Worth Asking
Christian schools exist to accomplish a mission greater than any individual leader, yet sustained leadership remains an important consideration for institutional health.
If nearly half of surveyed Heads have considered leaving and approximately one in five newly appointed Heads departs within three years, do we really understand why? And what might we learn if we did?
In the next post, we’ll take a closer look at why school leaders leave and explore some of the gaps in our understanding.