In the United States, Black women rarely serve as superintendents. Historically, White males have monopolized executive leadership roles in education, and the trend data remains consistent to present times. Given these patterns, we have constructed our knowledge of the superintendency from a White male perspective. Consequently, this singular…

In the ever-evolving landscape of academia, women are increasingly taking center stage, reshaping the leadership narrative in higher education and K-12 institutions. The early female scholars and educators played a pivotal role in advancing women's education as they fought for equality resulting in an increasing number of women in administrative…

For years, Marjorie Hass, now the president of Rhodes College, was approached by women in higher education looking for advice and support as they took on leadership roles and navigated challenging career paths. Eventually, she began offering online seminars so she could meet in small groups to answer questions and encourage women to develop…

In "Justice for Black Students: Black Principals Matter," Kofi Lomotey begins with a two-pronged premise: (1) Black students do not receive a quality education in US public (or private) schools, and (2) Black principals, like Black teachers, can make a positive impact on the academic and overall success of Black students. Through the…

Over the years, careers have transformed to be flexible and changing rather than stable, life-long commitments to an organization. As such, making work meaningful, controlling the work environment, and taking the opportunity to get required training for the next job are as important as the financial advantages. Educators' careers cannot be…

In the twenty-first century, learning and the definition of education is changing. New digital, online, and social tools have the ability to transform the classroom and engage learners like never before. In the midst of this technological revolution, it is crucial for educators and administrators to be able to gauge the impact of digital tools on…

A sample of 45 women managers was surveyed in a qualitative study to explore their experiences of being unemployed. The sample was purposeful, and the data were collected on a website-based survey. The experience of unemployment for female managers was far different from what was previously presumed from research largely drawn from male …

Most published research on the superintendency has failed to examine the voices of female superintendents. Today, white males make up approximately 85% of superintendents, rendering female responses to the superintendency almost non-existent. This study, commissioned by the American Association of School Administrators, provides a historical…

Black women, like other women of color, find themselves at the intersection of both racism and sexism in the workplace. Due to their unique dual status as racial and gender minorities, they encounter unique and unexplored barriers that inhibit their career as well as leadership development. The goal of this article is to highlight the emerging…

Although over 75 percent of U.S. superintendents have had experience as principals or assistant principals before landing the top job, the principalship is not necessarily a prerequisite. Teaching and leadership experience, effective career planning and marketing, and access to mentors are all important. Sidebars highlight women administrators'…

The authors examined 16 US women school administrators' experiences with role conflict and role discontinuity within their first one to five years of transitioning from teaching to administration. Findings from this theory-building, qualitative study indicate that this transition triggered role conflicts that emerged from the participants'…

The percentage of women in the superintendency remained stagnant over 80 years of the last century and has only increased slightly, to just fewer than 14% of the public school superintendents in the U.S. today. In other words, the glass ceiling still exists. The persistent reasons for lack of change are gender prejudice and gender…

Women aspiring to the superintendency are advised to advance their own careers by working as volunteers with talented leaders, getting involved in professional meetings and associations, looking for opportunities in other school districts, and joining a network of women administrators. (MLF)

In studies of leadership in college and university administration, the role of women administrators, particularly deans of women, has been largely overlooked. By retracing the roles of women deans and their work, including research, a new appreciation for women in higher education in the first half of the twentieth century can be gained. (MSE)

Interviews with married women superintendents and some of their husbands indicate the importance of developing a relationship of mutual support. (MLF)