https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb Digital Scrapbook by Brianna Crowley en-us 2019-06-19 21:57:09 UTC 2019-06-19 23:07:43 UTC hello@padlet.com brianna_crowley https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382405 These short videos bring faces, names, and stories to the statistics I've been reading in more academic or news articles. In one video, Traci Davis identifies the barrier and challenges of board politics, which from my work, is fairly consistent from all superintendents. However, women face these challenges even more as they combat biases on top of broad challenges in the role. ]]> 2019-06-19 21:57:09 UTC https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382405 brianna_crowley https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382406 This article was written by a student intern summarizing a conference panel of women discussing their role as a minority in the position. Interestingly, in the state of Hawaii, the gender disparity is not as stark with "21 female and 29 male state superintendents." Panelists highlighted self-doubt and their struggles to feel confident in the role--a condition perhaps created by societal pressures and stereotypes around gender and race. ]]> 2019-06-19 21:57:09 UTC https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382406 brianna_crowley https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382407 Published in the Journal of Women in Educational Leadership (2006), this article was written by three female academics in Maine. It emphasizes the pathway women tend to follow in their careers and how it deters them from access to the most powerful positions in a school district--high school principle and superintendent (the former leading often to the latter). Women are less likely to be willing to move to various districts in order to climb the professional ladder, seeing their value in the leadership role as deriving from their years in one place earning credibility through relationship-building and trust. Other challenges to access include lack of a formal network of sponsors and mentors, and a perception that women needed to adopt male characteristics to fit into administration. The suggestions at the end for how women should address challenges is interesting and strikes me as indicative of the dated nature of this article. ]]> 2019-06-19 21:57:09 UTC https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382407 brianna_crowley https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382408 Another dissertation focusing on the intersection of race and gender and the disproportional effect of women of color in the Superintendent's position, but focused on Missouri rather than NY. This dissertation also focuses on the "feminized role of the teacher rooted in the assumption of women as nurturers and men as leaders and problem-solvers." The author points out that social politics add a layer of challenge for black women entering this role as well as lack of mentors and sponsors to promote their leadership through an established system. ]]> 2019-06-19 21:57:09 UTC https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382408 brianna_crowley https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382409 This is a dissertation focused more specifically on superintendent women of color specifically in New York State. In the first chapter, the author emphasizes the skills and cultural competency women of color bring to the role of Superintendent which is crucial as the student populations are increasingly populated with students of color. This article highlights the double challenge of women who face both gender and racial bias in the process of pursuing and achieving superintendency. It also explores how the feminist movement often further marginalized black women rather than elevating them into leadership positions. ]]> 2019-06-19 21:57:09 UTC https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382409 brianna_crowley https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382410 This is recording of a local NPR show that focuses on PA rather than national data. While 28% of women ascend to Superintendent's position in PA, more than 73% of classroom teachers are women. Women are also more likely than their male counterparts to have a doctoral degree when in this position. Those interviewed highlighted the importance of pressure at home preventing women from choosing the role as well as the male bias in potentially choosing women for leadership positions both in pipeline for superintendency and for the position itself. ]]> 2019-06-19 21:57:09 UTC https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382410 brianna_crowley https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382411 Kappan, a respected education journal, published an article with multiple authors--one of which is a veteran school director who "observed this gendered career system over three decades and in more than 200 public schools across the United States." This article more than the previous delves into the history of the teaching profession as seen as largely female work while school leadership (administration) historically was carved as a pathway for males who coached sports teams. The article goes on to cite cultural biases based on historic gender roles as a reason for the low representation of women in the top position of a school district. ]]> 2019-06-19 21:57:09 UTC https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382411 brianna_crowley https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382412 This article from respected Bellwether Education Partners, further analyzes the data from the AASA survey. The following are new insights to add to previous two articles. 
"People of color are grossly underrepresented in the school leadership space. Women of color are far less likely to hold superintendent roles than their white counterparts."
"Male superintendents out-earn their female counterparts in all but one tier of district sizes."]]> 2019-06-19 21:57:09 UTC https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382412 brianna_crowley https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382413 In another national-scope article, this education magazine interviews a number of Superintendents who are women and school board members who hire them. It cites both state and national statistics emphasizing the disproportionality of women who teach vs. women who manage adults and systems in schools. The article ends by alluding to future solutions to address this and referencing AASA's initiative. ]]> 2019-06-19 21:57:09 UTC https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382413 brianna_crowley https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382414 As the association for superintendents, this article outlines a study seeking to understand why so few women ascend to the highest position of power in school districts. The findings are consistent with other studies on this topic including issues with women in the superintendent pipeline, choosing to prioritize perceived personal responsibilities over professional gains, and discrimination by school boards who hire them. The article also provides strategies to address each reason. ]]> 2019-06-19 21:57:09 UTC https://padlet.com/brianna_crowley/6efbnyj7rklb/wish/368382414