Purpose: This study examines how women principals authored reforms in their schools and the resources and multifaceted identities they drew upon to navigate change. Design/methodology/approach: Using life history methods, this paper examines data from 20 semi-structured interviews conducted during 2022-2023 with 10 women public school principals…

The research explores the lived experiences of minority women in K-12 educational leadership, examining their motivations for pursuing careers in this field, and the challenges they encounter on their professional and educational journeys. The challenges faced are multifaceted and include issues related to gender, culture, and race/ethnicity.…

The intersectional identities of African American women leaders come with challenges and obstacles that few thoroughly comprehend. This phenomenological study sought to understand the impact of intersectionality on the leadership styles and journey of African American women in K-12 district leadership. Historically, leadership literature…

This qualitative exploratory study examines the perspectives of Hispanic women on barriers to educational leadership in the U.S. K-12 education. It aims to understand the challenges faced by Hispanic women in aspiring to leadership roles within the educational sector. Phenomenology, Driving Force Theory, and Intersectionality Theory form the…

There has been an increase in the number of women serving as heads of school in independent schools, though women remain underrepresented as heads of school in large (> 700 students), K-12, co-educational independent day schools. Data in this qualitative study were gathered through interviews with six women who were current or retired heads of…

Purpose: There is a significant volume of literature relating to the mentoring needs of new principals and vice/deputy principals, but little is known about the mentoring needs of recently appointed middle leaders in an educational setting. This study explored the mentoring needs of five female middle leaders at a K-12 case study school of 550…

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted longstanding issues in student achievement in the United States, with only 37% of students from grades 4-12 showing proficiency in math and reading, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The East Coast Charter Authorizer (ECCA), which oversees one of the largest and most diverse…

The purpose of this autoethnography is to take readers through the experiences of one biracial woman, me, as she tries to define her biracial identity and ontology from childhood through adulthood, traversing a racist, majoritarian world. From an early age, I have often wondered from where my identity came. I wondered how I became me, what…

To specifically add to the literature on Black girls cultivating their science genius, Black women science teachers 'talk back' by sharing and developing their own narratives about being a science-curious young Black girl and how they use that experience to actualize their vision for liberatory science teaching. This international, qualitative…

Autistic individuals' experience of the inclusion process is poorly understood, especially that of female pupils. This study retrospectively explored the views of autistic women who were included in general schools throughout childhood and adolescence, from elementary to high school, to understand their unique experiences and learn more about…

Gendered racial microaggressions, experienced at the intersections of one's race and gender, can make recipients prone to health risks. This research explored the frequency and levels of stress associated with microaggressions and determined if a relationship existed between frequencies of microaggression, levels of stress, and years of experience…

In K-12 public school districts, females are not dominant in educational leadership positions. Females continue to be underrepresented in the positions that pay more and have the greatest impact on students' education. Despite some females pursuing and attaining credentials for leadership, they encounter obstacles along the path to leadership.…

This study provides insight into the role of affinity groups within educational environments focusing on the perspectives of school counseling practitioners who facilitate these groups. Affinity groups, designed to bring together students with shared identities or interests, serve as spaces for supportive dialogue, learning, and empowerment. The…

This study explored the unique leadership journeys of Latinx women holding principal positions in K-12 schools across New Jersey. The research findings revealed that these women's career paths were significantly influenced by their social identity characteristics, specifically as female Latinx individuals. The study serves as a crucial reminder to…

Computational Thinking (CT) is crucial for the advancement of the STEM field, where there continues to be a lack of female representation. Teaching and learning (T/L) of CT should incorporate didactic strategies that aim to eliminate gender biases and integrate girls/women into this context. In response to the question, "What didactic…