Superintendents know they work and live in a giant fishbowl. School board members, teachers, community members and the news media have been known to scrutinize what kind of vehicle they drive, who they socialize with outside of work, whether they drink alcohol, where they live and when they leave the house each morning. But when the harsh glare of the spotlight descends on a spouse or child--simply by virtue of marital status or bloodline--even the most thick-skinned superintendents can come to resent the very public nature of their job. Family privacy always has been an issue for superintendents, but experts and school officials say the challenges have intensified in recent years owing to the exponential growth in social media and states' fiscal woes. Superintendents expect to operate in a fishbowl but anguish about the effects on their spouses and vulnerable children. The fishbowl effect on families is heightened in small communities. In cities and larger towns, the spouses and children of public officials are more anonymous, and the superintendent may not be one of the most visible or controversial political figures in the community. Moreover, urban superintendents are more likely to have public relations staff to provide counsel and serve as a buffer on sensitive issues.