Perspectives on Leadership: Race, Gender and the Superintendency—A National Study 205Table 4. Analysis of Participants Education Experience.N Minimum Maximum Mean Median SD*
Teaching Experience 269 0 yrs. 34 yrs. 7.97 yrs. 7 yrs. 6.54
Pupil Service Experience 51 0 yrs. 26 yrs. 5.42 yrs. 3 yrs. 5.74
Supervisor Experience 39 1 yrs. 14 yrs. 4.44 yrs. 3 yrs. 3.67
Director Experience 120 1 yrs. 21 yrs. 4.94 yrs. 4 yrs. 4.24
Principal Experience 322 1 yrs. 23 yrs. 7.41 yrs. 7 yrs. 4.37
Assistant Superintendent Experience 148 .5 yrs. 15 yrs. 4.06 yrs. 3 yrs. 3.06
Superintendent Experience 293 0 yrs. 27 yrs. 6.29 yrs. 5 yrs. 5.08
(*SD = Standard Deviation)
Considering the obstacles women had to overcome to attain the superintendency, these
characteristics, although not particular only to women, provide some insight into the
leadership profile of women who finally “crack the glass ceiling.”
Participants responded that on average, they completed three applications in their search
for their first superintendency. Table 5 breaks down more precisely the number of
applications completed by the sample. Almost half (45%) said they only filled out one
application in their quest for their first superintendency and 10% replied that they did not fill
out any applications. Apparently some respondents were pre-selected or recruited for the
position or possibly the school district that employed them did not adhere to a strict
application process. It could also indicate an election process was required for the position.
Similar data were collected concerning the number of times the participants (N = 423)
were interviewed for their first superintendent’s position. Most of the sample (77%) indicated
they attended between one and three interviews to obtain their first position, a range that
might be considered low, and gave evidence that these candidates might have been pre-
selected or recruited for the position. One (.2%) unfortunate individual attended 30 interviews
before securing her first position. The data are encouraging since the 2000 AASA study
reported that 59.2% of the 294 women who participated in that study had found their first
position in less than one year after receiving certification (Brunner, 2000 in Glass et al., p.
87). The speedy interview process following only a few applications resulting in a
superintendent appointment provided some credence to boards being favorable to considering
female applicants.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS: HOW CAN THEY OVERCOME?
Why Study the Female Superintendent?
There is a need for women to be able to identify themselves as part of the social institution,
not as its footnote. Over the past few years, researchers have investigated the inequities of the
female superintendent issue with tortoise-like progress evolving on a national level in
comparison to the increasing numbers of women in other professions. This study was initiated