Book Description

The purpose of this study was to compare Northern and Southern women superintendents east of the Mississippi River and Mason-Dixon Line, describe their demographics, perceived barriers and leadership styles. This research study compared women superintendents from twenty-three states personal and professional characteristics, and perceived leadership styles in the superintendency. The purpose of this study was to discover the personal and professional barriers that impede and promote Northern and Southern women superintendents' tenure in the superintendency with emphasis on ethnicity, district size and other demographic characteristics. The study also documents perceived barriers, overcoming barriers and words of wisdom for women seeking the superintendency. Surveys were sent to 800 women superintendents. Three hundred of them responded, however 270 were complete and deemed usable for this study. Quantitative data was entered into a SPSS database for comparison and qualitative data was sorted by themes for a more in-depth understanding of the participants. The findings revealed that the majority of women superintendents worked in rural school districts with student populations of 1,000 to 2,500. They had varying career experiences including principals, curriculum instructionists and directors. The study found that most of the superintendents achieved their first superintendency job at 40-49 years of age. The majority of women superintendents obtained degrees beyond Masters. Northern and Southern women superintendents perceived many of the same barriers toward attainment and placement in the superintendency. The personal barrier that most affected their career was family, while the professional barrier that impacted their career was social assumptions. Northern and Southern women superintendents described the same leadership style while serving in the superintendency. Northern and Southern women superintendents identified being well read, knowing themselves, global thinking and perseverance as characteristics of importance in the quest and placement in the superintendency. A replication of this study should be conducted with an increased number of participants from other states to include school board members' perceptions. Another recommendation would be for a more in-depth study on the advancement of women in the superintendency with a focus on those states that have limited number of women superintendents.