Superintendency aspirations of superintendent-qualified women administrators

A known gender gap exists in the rates of women attaining the superintendency. Research conducted on the gender disparity in the superintendency notes men aspire and persist to become superintendents with greater frequency than women (Muñoz, Pankake, Ramalho, Mills, & Simonsson, 2014). Women persist to achieve the superintendency with meaningful support, such as a mentor and strong professional networks that include gatekeepers (Brunner, 1998; Bynum, 2015; Howard et al., 2017; Key, Thomas, Hunter, Morote, & Tatum, 2015; Sherman, Muñoz, & Pankake, 2008; Skrla et al., 2000). However, most previous work focuses on the voices of women by including those who achieve the superintendency. As a result, a gap exists in understanding the voices of the women who do not aspire to the superintendency or who at one time may have aspired to the position but ultimately did not become a superintendent. This qualitative study uses a phenomenological approach to focus on the lived experiences of superintendent-qualified women candidates and explores the women’s aspirations to be superintendents in Texas public schools. This study intends to provide insight into the underrepresentation of women in the superintendency by exploring the influencing experiences and challenges that affect the aspirations of superintendent-qualified women administrators. Identifying the perceptions and aspirations of superintendent-qualified women candidates yet to achieve the position will support research on how to foster more women applicants. The findings may serve to inform multiple stakeholders, including superintendency preparation programs, hiring boards and search firms, and, most of all, women administrators.