Author: Jennifer Anne Polinchock
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781303915192
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 154
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Book Description
A variety of factors contribute to women's underrepresentation in educational administration, particularly in positions that traditionally lead to the superintendency. This study examines the career pathways of female superintendent aspirants from the elementary principalship. A conceptual framework based on career development and motivation theories was developed to guide this inquiry. Using a convergent mixed methods design, a survey of a random sample of female elementary principals and interviews from case studies reveals that aspirants to the superintendency perceive district-level positions as accessible and advantageous to their career development. The results of this study support the use of alternative career pathways to the superintendency among female elementary principals who are historically underrepresented in top leadership positions. The implications of this study suggest that women develop aspirations to the superintendency and make career pathway decisions based on their career commitments and the value they imbue in gaining leadership experience in sentinel positions as opposed to following a traditional hierarchy to career advancement. Furthermore, the implications of this study include a re-envisioning of inquiries into women's access to the superintendency to shift from a gender-specific lens to include a focus on the role of diverse professional experiences and leadership development in superintendent preparation. Professional practices such as mentorships and professional networks would promote women's aspirations and attainment of school and district leadership positions.
Author: Kay Fuller
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889719448
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 247
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Book Description
Author: Sherry Griggs
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
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Book Description
ABSTRACTThe purpose of this particular study was to investigate the career pathways of women toward the superintendency and to examine the perceived barriers and supports that may have influenced their attainment of this position of educational leadership. Using the lenses of new data from interviews with fifteen women who are currently serving as superintendents or who had previously served as superintendents in public school districts in Pennsylvania, this study sought to expand upon and strengthen previous research depicting a critical trend in the field of educational leadership related to inequitable representation of women in the superintendent's position. The study also attempted to provide information that graduate programs in educational leadership and mentoring programs for professional organizations can use to help identify the skills needed for women to succeed in the superintendency. The study aimed to not only assist women aspiring to the ranks of these top leadership positions but also to benefit individuals hiring school leaders. Using a methodology of portraiture, the study focused on five essential features including context, voice, relationships, emerging themes, and aesthetic whole. The analysis primarily concentrated on variations in demographics, educational preparedness, and job clusters. Conclusions from the study reflected common themes that included: intentions, accountability, work ethic, mentors and networks, politics, timing and fit, and personal and professional preparedness. Finally, the limitations of the study are offered.Keywords: career paths, career pathways, female school superintendents.
Author: Elizabeth Hammond Yonson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Women school superintendents
Languages : en
Pages : 107
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Book Description
This ethnographic study explored the career pathways of 60 women superintendents in Pennsylvania. These women have achieved the most powerful position in public education, which makes them unique because men have traditionally dominated the superintendency. The results of this study indicate that as women become more highly educated and have the opportunity to acquire the skills and experiences needed for the superintendency, they are being considered and hired as superintendents. The research indicated that the women held three to seven positions along their path to the superintendency. The majority of superintendents worked in more than one school district. Twenty-five percent had relocated to accept the superintendency. Spouse support, role models, and mentors were facilitators that the superintendents stated assisted them during their career. The barriers included (a) perception of gender bias, (b) perception that women will allow their emotions to influence administrative decisions, and (c) perception that women do not understand finances.
Author: Julie Marie Powell
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Discrimination
Languages : en
Pages : 120
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Book Description
The purpose of this research was to describe the experiences of six women superintendents who began their careers as elementary principals. The central question was: What can we learn from the lived experience of women who came from a background as elementary educators and advanced to the superintendency in a variety of district contexts within Michigan's traditional public school system? The research design was a qualitative, interpretive, multiple case study approach using the data collection method of interviewing. Two conceptual frameworks - expectations states theory and feminist poststructuralism - provided the context for this research. Portraits of each of the six participants were shared to provide detailed descriptions. Four emergent themes common across all six participants were revealed. Those findings were: 1. All subjects got initiated to the idea of obtaining administrative positions through an external event and/or person of influence who instilled in them a belief about their potential as an administrator; 2. Most considered their elementary backgrounds as an advantage to their beliefs and strengths as a leader, which developed into understanding how the K-12 system works for students; 3. All participants raised the issue of the challenge of relating to secondary teachers - the steep learning curve around scheduling and staffing and also learning about a secondary climate and culture - as needed to be successful as superintendents coming from an elementary background; 4. In seeking or accepting a superintendency, there was a significant draw to a home district or region with family ties. In addition to these common themes, it was found that the timing of a woman's decision to apply for a superintendent position was dependent on certain variables lining up at the right moment. There was also a strong appreciation and desire for mentorship for women as they decide to enter administration and move along their career paths. Several recommendations resulted from the findings of this study, including ones for women aspirants to the superintendency, university preparation programs, and search firm consultants and school board members. These recommendations addressed the need to purposively study women's issues in leadership to further understand how women make decisions about their career paths.
Author: Ronald R. Rowe (Jr.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : School management and organization
Languages : en
Pages : 380
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Book Description
Women have played integral and instrumental roles in public education since its inception, yet women continue to be underrepresented in one major educational position, the superintendency. This study examined female principals in Western Pennsylvania and perceived barriers of these females in aspiring to the superintendency. Data for this study were collected through an electronic survey, which asked respondents to rate the intensity of perceived barriers of to the superintendency, provided demographic information, and complete two open-ended questions. Perceived barriers were stratified into three barrier taxonomies: 1) structural; 2) sociocultural; 3) intrapersonal. Data were analyzed using frequency distributions, independent samples t tests, ANOVAs and chi-squared tests. Data analysis focused on female superintendent aspiration rate, perceived barriers by demographic category, perceived barriers by intent to aspire, and demographic category of superintendent aspirants. The analysis determined that intrapersonal barriers were most often identified as perceived barriers to the superintendency by female principals. The female principals in this study aspire to the superintendency at a rate higher than the percentage of females currently holding superintendencies is Pennsylvania. The respondents that intend to pursue the superintendency in the future were younger and had been employed as a building principal more recently. Recommendations to increase female representation in the superintendency are: 1) expanded networks, and mentorships; 2) restructuring the superintendent position; 3) alter policies governing the superintendency in Pennsylvania; and 4) change community and societal assumptions.
Author: Melissa Egri McCauley
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Career development
Languages : en
Pages : 220
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Book Description
This research explored lived experiences of female superintendents to understand factors that supported or created barriers for women in their career advancement while becoming a superintendent. A phenomenological study design framework was applied to the research to explore the journey women faced including the successes, struggles, and level of support they experienced during their career paths. Background research examined leadership roles, which address gender bias, ratio of female to male principals and superintendents, and other gender specific issues. In this study, seven female superintendents in the state of Pennsylvania were interviewed using a semi-structured one-on-one interview process. From the data, four themes emerged including, (a) Challenges They Faced, (b) Finding Balance, (c) Supporting Factors, and (d) Positive Attributes of the Job . A few recommendations to help increase the number of females in leadership positions include the concept of networking with other females for support purposes and to create a mentoring program that could be implemented by any school district nationwide.
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Educational leadership
Languages : en
Pages : 240
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Book Description
Author: Dana Solomon
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 130
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Book Description
Men continue to outnumber women in public school superintendent roles by a 4:1 ratio. However, women outnumber men by a 4:1 ratio in teaching roles in public school districts. In addition, more women than men hold superintendent certificates and educational doctorates. Due to this puzzling discrepancy, it is important to understand possible factors in the form of gendered barriers to access that could lead to the unequal representation of women in superintendent positions. In this study, I examined how these barriers manifested in the experiences of female superintendents participating in the study, how they influenced the hiring experiences of these participants, and how they impacted these female leaders throughout their careers. With this study, I investigated barriers associated with holding mechanisms, gendered norms, and gendered filters that may limit women's access to superintendent roles. Women's experiences of the origins and effects of gender normative perceptions and hiring practices have potential for contributing to the study of gender equity in the field of education and beyond. Findings could provide implications for increasing women's opportunities to serve beyond central office positions in public school districts. Possibilities exist for identifying practices in organizations that have hired women to serve at the highest level of school district leadership; that of the superintendent of schools.
Author: Pennsylvania Association of District Superintendents
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : School districts
Languages : en
Pages : 72
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Book Description
