Not for them: Women and the public school superintendency

• Main Author: Sanders, Lucinda Thompson
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2007
• Subjects: Civil engineering; Educational administration; School administration
• ISBN: 0549439099; 9780549439097

Women continue to be vastly under-represented in the public school superintendency in relation to their numbers in the teaching force. In this study, data was collected on 11 women aspirants to the superintendency from three southeastern states, who participated in one of two special superintendent-preparation programs specifically designed for women and minorities. The study explores the assumptions held by these women about accessing the position of superintendency, as well as how they perceived their participation in these programs as helpful or not in gaining the position of superintendent. The study examines the meanings these women ascribe to their own professional experiences in the context of their intention to secure a superintendency; how they conceptualize the superintendency itself; how they characterize their own leadership qualities in relationship to the superintendency; and, the extent to which their experiences are consistent with the existing literature. The examination of the experiences of this special group of women deepens our understanding of women, women's career in education, and the superintendency. A concern about the ongoing differential access women have to the public school superintendency provides the underlying motivation for this qualitative study. This study utilizes a multi-level research design which includes pre-existing data, survey materials, telephone interviews, and in-depth face-to-face interviews. The women of this study share most characteristics of women already in the superintendency, and they conceptualize the superintendency as a position of advocacy for children. These aspirants rate teamwork, building relationships, and shared decision-making at the heart of ethical leadership. Other findings show these highly credentialed women's aspirations are stymied by lack of career planning, little encouragement by mentors and/or networks, and issues of preference (rejection by hiring authorities and anti-feminism); prejudice (discrimination and stereotyping); and perception (social norms and being the "other"). In the three years that have elapsed since the conclusion of these programs, not a single one of this study's participants has been hired as a superintendent. Keywords. Women Aspiring to the Superintendency, Leadership Preparation, Women's Leadership, Barriers, Gender