Chris Thomas, Legal Strategy Director for Education Policy at the Goldwater Institute, has expressed his aim to enhance transparency in superintendent pay and district responses. He said this goal during an appearance on the Grand Canyon Times podcast.
“I was aware of this, but what I wanted to do was sort of bring it all out into the light so that taxpayers know how superintendents are paid, what these different provisions do, they can then decide whether or not it’s fair that superintendents get compensated this way,” said Thomas, Director of Legal Strategy. “And what I also did is… grade our school districts and how responsive they were and how transparent they were.”
Recent developments indicate growing concern over transparency in superintendent compensation. Investigations have revealed that many districts do not publicly disclose full contract terms, including bonuses, leave payouts, and other perks. According to the Goldwater Institute, most Arizona districts have withheld complete compensation details from taxpayers despite large contractual benefits. This has sparked broader debates nationwide about mandatory disclosure laws and stronger oversight of administrative pay.
The 2024–25 national salary study by The School Superintendents Association (AASA) shows that while the average superintendent salary has risen nominally over the past decade, inflation-adjusted pay has slightly declined. The 2013 mean salary in 2024 dollars equates to $175,679—approximately $6,336 higher than the most recent mean. The study also highlights significant variation in total compensation packages that include bonuses and benefits.
According to the Texas Policy Institute, compensation growth for top-paid superintendents has significantly outpaced teacher salary increases and instructional spending. In Texas, the top 25 superintendents earn an average base salary of $407,739 for 2024–25, with the highest reaching $565,047. This contrasts with a statewide median superintendent pay of about $176,000 and slower teacher wage growth, illustrating widening compensation gaps.
Thomas serves as Director of Legal Strategy for Education Policy at the Goldwater Institute. His biography on their website notes his previous role as General Counsel for the Arizona School Boards Association for over two decades and his extensive experience in education law, governance, and policy reform related to school finance.
