Graduation Year
2026
Date of Defense
3-27-2026
Degree Name
Doctorate in Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership
Department
School of Education and Human Development
Document Type
Dissertation
First Advisor
Anna Cutaia
Abstract
Despite representing approximately 77% of the national teaching force and holding the majority of advanced credentials in educational leadership, women occupy only 30% of superintendencies nationwide. This doctoral research, “Women in K-12 Leadership: Exploring Influences, Perspectives and Views on the Journey to the Superintendency,” investigates this persistent gender disparity within the highest position of school governance, the superintendency. Framed by Social Role Theory and Role Congruity Theory, the study examines how internalized perceptions of leadership and the disproportionate burden of domestic mental labor influence a woman’s decision to pursue or self-select out of the leadership pipeline.
Centered on the lived experiences of female district administrators and sitting superintendents in the tristate region, this research addressed two essential research questions: 1) How does a woman's view of leadership impact her decision to pursue the superintendency? 2) What impact does mental labor, cognitive and emotional, have on a woman’s entry into the superintendency? The findings suggest that highly qualified women often opt out of the leadership pipeline due to a perceived conflict between their relational leadership identities and the "all-consuming," highly political nature of the role. Furthermore, the data reveals a significant misalignment between the perceived demands of the office held by aspiring leaders and the actualized experiences of sitting superintendents. The study offers strategic recommendations to mitigate these systemic inequities and cultivate a more inclusive leadership journey.