The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of Black/ African American women aspiring, serving, or having previously served in the role of Superintendent of Schools in the State of Texas. Additionally, the study investigated the perceived barriers and challenges that impacted the participant's ascent to the superintendency, and…

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of African American women serving as executive-level administrators (assistant, associate, deputy superintendents and/or superintendents) in Texas public school districts. Specifically, this study investigated how executive-level African American women in Texas public schools perceive…

The current Delphi study examined barriers women face when pursuing the role of superintendent and the supports they utilize to help them overcome those barriers. In the role of superintendent, men hold 74% of the positions, and women hold 26%. However, in the role of teacher, men hold 24%, and women hold 76%. Women show the desire to serve in the…

In comparison to men, the high school principal role in Texas is a position that few women obtain in their educational leadership journey. Even though women are statistically more prominently employed as teachers in K-12 public education in Texas, women are not equally represented in the superintendency. This disparity of representation starts at…

The topic of African American superintendents has been largely neglected in society. Research studies revealed that an under-representation of African American superintendents exists. This ethnic disparity is a valid concern. This study was based on the premise that additional research studies are needed to understand the climate, culture and…

Education organizations have noted a gender disparity in administrative leadership. In colleges, the American Council on Education urged leaders to move the needle from having 30% to 50% of U.S. college presidents be women by 2030 (ACE, 2017). A gender inequity has also been documented in school district populations (PBS, 2016), with a majority of…

This study explores the relationships between gender, career ambition, and the emergence of executive leadership in the bureaucracy. In "Bureaucratic Ambition," Teodoro (2011) shows that public administration career paths shape individual ambition, political behavior, and policy innovation. But career systems are not neutral conduits of…

The purpose of the research was to inform professional practice pertaining to the preparation of female administrators as future school superintendents. Twenty female superintendents in Texas were interviewed using a qualitative research approach. Strategies, career experiences and perception of barriers were identified using open-ended questions.…

The purpose of this research is to examine the motivations of females aspiring to school superintendency positions in Texas. We report on a reanalysis of data from two previous studies and how the findings build an understanding of previously documented obstacles and barriers female candidates encounter in their journey toward the superintendency.…

The superintendent is the highest ranking administrator in a school district (Katz, 2005). Despite increasing trends of women advancing in the fields of business and government, the superintendent position in school districts still has relatively few women (Brunner & Grogan, 2007; Dana & Bourisaw, 2006; Glass, 2000; Grogan & Brunner,…

The purpose of this study was to broadly examine and analyze gender differences in the leadership styles of Texas public school superintendents by analyzing their subordinates' responses on Bolman and Deal's (1991) Leadership Orientations (Other) survey. Approximately 25% (n = 484) of the high-ranking administrators within the 198 selected school…

Information about the experiences successful leaders perceive as vital to their development can be helpful to one's understanding of resiliency. Such information can also offer insights into the ways successful leaders use positive and negative situations as learning opportunities and the strategies they implement in addressing adversity. The…