Search

The most powerful position in public schools is that of school superintendent, and it is a position dominated by men. Several factors account for the decline of women in superintendency. Perhaps the most important reason there are so few women in the superintendency is that women enter the teaching profession to teach children. Based on the literature, a questionnaire was prepared and sent to all female superintendents in the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Texas. Results reveal that female superintendents did not seem to indicate discrimination by their male board members or in the type or size of school district they would consider for superintendent positions. It is also found that some of the barriers to the superintendency for women include: lack of encouragement, lack of professional network, limited access to formal and informal training, exclusion from the "Good Old Boy Network," and lack of influential sponsors.

Survey of selected sample of superintendents in three states (Indiana, Illinois, and Texas) about what they like about their jobs. Having a substantial impact on the direction of their school districts is the strongest reason the superintendents give for liking their jobs. Nearly 90 percent of the respondent superintendents rate their overall job satisfaction high or very high. (Contains 19 references.) (PKP)

The article focuses on the study regarding female superintendents in three states in the U.S. It states that most powerful position in public schools are school superintendent and it is a position dominated by men. It cites that female candidates for superintendent positions face challenges that are different from their male counterparts in educational administration. It presents a questionnaire were prepared and sent to all female superintendents in the states of Illinois, Indiana and Texas. The results and discussion of the study are offered.