THE WOMEN SUPERINTENDENCY CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES Dr. Patricia Watkins Dr. Nancie Lightner March 27, 2009.

THE WOMEN THE WOMEN SUPERINTENDENCYSUPERINTENDENCY

CHALLENGES & CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIESOPPORTUNITIES

Dr. Patricia WatkinsDr. Patricia WatkinsDr. Nancie LightnerDr. Nancie Lightner

March 27, 2009March 27, 2009

Virginia StatisticsVirginia Statistics133 Division Superintendents133 Division Superintendents

34 Females34 Females

(approximately 25%)(approximately 25%)

Progress?Progress? 50% of students in educational administration 50% of students in educational administration

programs are women (Miller, 1986)programs are women (Miller, 1986) Approximately 15% of superintendents are Approximately 15% of superintendents are

women (Glass, 2006)women (Glass, 2006) This represents a ten percentage point gain in the This represents a ten percentage point gain in the

past twenty yearspast twenty years Approximately 75% of teachers are womenApproximately 75% of teachers are women 5% of superintendents are people of color5% of superintendents are people of color

Some black female superintendents experience Some black female superintendents experience their gender as more of a barrier than their race. their gender as more of a barrier than their race. (Ed Week, 2006)(Ed Week, 2006)

Typical Career PathsTypical Career Paths MaleMaleFemaleFemaleTeacher (coach)Teacher (coach) Teacher Teacher

Assistant PrincipalAssistant Principal Elementary Asst Principal Elementary Asst Principal

PrincipalPrincipal Elem/MS Principal Elem/MS Principal

Asst Supt. Superintendent DirectorAsst Supt. Superintendent Director

SuperintendentSuperintendent Asst. Superintendent Asst. Superintendent

Acting SuperintendentActing Superintendent

SuperintendentSuperintendent

Getting ThereGetting There The MatchThe Match

Critical between person and district and vice Critical between person and district and vice versaversa

Overall quality of life – one of the deciding Overall quality of life – one of the deciding factorsfactors

Professional and personal considerations are Professional and personal considerations are part of the decisionpart of the decision

Out-of-state candidates may experience some Out-of-state candidates may experience some difficulties in securing a superintendencydifficulties in securing a superintendency

Physical appearancePhysical appearance Check out district information via the Internet, Check out district information via the Internet,

local publications, and/or through a local publications, and/or through a professional network.professional network.

Getting ThereGetting There The Right PaperworkThe Right Paperwork

Cover letter, resume´, references, and required Cover letter, resume´, references, and required district application materialdistrict application material

Online submissionOnline submission Authentic and honestAuthentic and honest References should have firsthand knowledge of References should have firsthand knowledge of

applicant’s leadership qualitiesapplicant’s leadership qualities Proper paperwork gets you in the doorProper paperwork gets you in the door Correct titles, names, and addressesCorrect titles, names, and addresses Thank you!Thank you!

Getting ThereGetting There The Search ProcessThe Search Process

Search consultants are the gatekeepers of Search consultants are the gatekeepers of the search and selection processthe search and selection process

Several formatsSeveral formats Gender and age bias may factor into a school Gender and age bias may factor into a school

district’s decisiondistrict’s decision School boards are ultimately responsible for School boards are ultimately responsible for

hiring a superintendenthiring a superintendent Internal candidates experience mixed resultsInternal candidates experience mixed results

Getting ThereGetting There Barriers to Obtaining the PositionBarriers to Obtaining the Position

Mixed indications of gender as a barrierMixed indications of gender as a barrier Queen Bee syndrome = Good-old-boys network Queen Bee syndrome = Good-old-boys network

as a barrieras a barrier Past negative transgressions of former Past negative transgressions of former

superintendent may provide a barriersuperintendent may provide a barrier Sometimes personal privacy and confidentiality Sometimes personal privacy and confidentiality

in a search process are breachedin a search process are breached School boards sometimes hire like people as School boards sometimes hire like people as

superintendentssuperintendents Neutralize barriers by strong, positive Neutralize barriers by strong, positive

connections to powerful and influential peopleconnections to powerful and influential people Fit helps overcome barriersFit helps overcome barriers

Getting ThereGetting There MentoringMentoring

Mentor and protégé should have similar Mentor and protégé should have similar valuesvalues

Select a mentor who will help you achieve Select a mentor who will help you achieve your goalsyour goals

Mentoring is a time commitmentMentoring is a time commitment Find multiple mentors for diverse purposesFind multiple mentors for diverse purposes Is your mentor ready to let go when you are Is your mentor ready to let go when you are

ready to become more independent?ready to become more independent? Potential mentors might be charismatic and Potential mentors might be charismatic and

initially welcoming but have little follow-initially welcoming but have little follow-throughthrough

Getting ThereGetting There NetworkingNetworking

Two keys to networking – establishing them and Two keys to networking – establishing them and maintaining themmaintaining them

Opportunities include national conferences, state Opportunities include national conferences, state organizations, civic activities, and combinations of organizations, civic activities, and combinations of personal and professional growth...yoga classes, personal and professional growth...yoga classes, book clubs, and/or religious, spiritual, or social book clubs, and/or religious, spiritual, or social justice groupsjustice groups

Networks should be broad and not all single Networks should be broad and not all single gender, race, or purposegender, race, or purpose

Find or create a network yourselfFind or create a network yourself Be a role model for others....pay it forwardBe a role model for others....pay it forward

Getting ThereGetting There Superintendent Contract Superintendent Contract

NegotiationsNegotiations

Do your homeworkDo your homework Don’t just accept what is offeredDon’t just accept what is offered Know your bottom lineKnow your bottom line Get adviceGet advice For every move, there is a countermoveFor every move, there is a countermove Seek a collaborative processSeek a collaborative process There is an emotional and rational side to There is an emotional and rational side to

negotiations...the end will be a negotiations...the end will be a combination of the twocombination of the two

Staying ThereStaying There Designing and Leading Your Designing and Leading Your

Vision and Entry PlanVision and Entry Plan

Very clear visionVery clear vision Ability to articulate to all stakeholdersAbility to articulate to all stakeholders Decisions are aligned with visionDecisions are aligned with vision Always ethical decisionsAlways ethical decisions Clear, specific entry planClear, specific entry plan

Staying ThereStaying There Navigating the Politics and the Navigating the Politics and the

LawLaw Get to know stakeholders before making Get to know stakeholders before making

changeschanges Find district and community historiansFind district and community historians Don’t believe everything you hearDon’t believe everything you hear Use networks to connect with local, state Use networks to connect with local, state

and national political leadersand national political leaders Build strong alliesBuild strong allies Have a knowledgeable advocateHave a knowledgeable advocate Be a player, not a victimBe a player, not a victim

Staying ThereStaying There Knowing the Budget BasicsKnowing the Budget Basics

Know the basics so you are not Know the basics so you are not totally dependent upon your totally dependent upon your business officialbusiness official

Remember almost all decisions are Remember almost all decisions are financialfinancial

The budget is nothing more than a The budget is nothing more than a blueprintblueprint

Check all forms of aid for funding- Check all forms of aid for funding- know about available grants etc. know about available grants etc.

Admit what you don’t knowAdmit what you don’t know

Staying ThereStaying There Enhancing BoardsmanshipEnhancing Boardsmanship

Keep board president informedKeep board president informed Involve all board in training about Involve all board in training about

vision/strategic planvision/strategic plan Clarify board and superintendent rolesClarify board and superintendent roles Engage in collaborative communicationEngage in collaborative communication

Staying ThereStaying There Enhancing BoardsmanshipEnhancing Boardsmanship

The board may be involved in The board may be involved in annual review and setting goalsannual review and setting goals annual evaluationsannual evaluations policy review and developmentpolicy review and development review and approval of fiscal activityreview and approval of fiscal activity appointment, review, tenure and appointment, review, tenure and

terminationtermination of personnelof personnel

annual review, development and approval annual review, development and approval of five-year plansof five-year plans

receipt of reportsreceipt of reports orientation of new board membersorientation of new board members

Staying ThereStaying There Working with the Media and Working with the Media and

Public RelationsPublic Relations

Decide if you’ll take a high or low profileDecide if you’ll take a high or low profile Determine the district spokespersonDetermine the district spokesperson Call back immediatelyCall back immediately Help reporters learn about education Help reporters learn about education

and your districtand your district Find different media outletsFind different media outlets Be respectful and sensitive to cultural, Be respectful and sensitive to cultural,

ethnic, racial, and gender factors when ethnic, racial, and gender factors when dealing with the mediadealing with the media

Staying ThereStaying There Honing Decision-Making SkillsHoning Decision-Making Skills

Seek help from mentorsSeek help from mentors Establish a professional habit to ask questions Establish a professional habit to ask questions

for learning and clarification purposesfor learning and clarification purposes Forge relationships within your own Forge relationships within your own

constituencyconstituency Project ramifications for all stakeholdersProject ramifications for all stakeholders Is it good for students? Is it good for students? should be the main should be the main

thrust for decisionsthrust for decisions Admit mistakes, apologize if necessary, get Admit mistakes, apologize if necessary, get

necessary data to revise decisionnecessary data to revise decision Help others problem solve to make better Help others problem solve to make better

decisions and not get decisions and not get stuckstuck

Staying ThereStaying There Trusting Your IntuitionTrusting Your Intuition

A first step is determining whom to trustA first step is determining whom to trust Superintendents should ask questions and Superintendents should ask questions and

seek support knowing this is not a sign of seek support knowing this is not a sign of weaknessweakness

Know the needs and wants of your Know the needs and wants of your constituency will come with time, patience and constituency will come with time, patience and successsuccess

With confidence and an attitude of With confidence and an attitude of I expect to I expect to be good, be good, trusting your intuition becomes an trusting your intuition becomes an easier task to manageeasier task to manage

Successful superintendents regularly engage Successful superintendents regularly engage in reflective practicein reflective practice

Staying ThereStaying There Crafting Superintendent Crafting Superintendent

EvaluationsEvaluations

Keep close tabs on Keep close tabs on the fit the fit and check with and check with a variety of stakeholders to make sure a variety of stakeholders to make sure this is in tactthis is in tact

Align your evaluation with goals that are Align your evaluation with goals that are congruent with your visioncongruent with your vision

Communicate frequently with the board Communicate frequently with the board and all stakeholdersand all stakeholders

Keep documentation and copies of Keep documentation and copies of written evaluations for future use written evaluations for future use

Staying ThereStaying There Developing Presence- Developing Presence-

Superintendents haveSuperintendents have A positive outlookA positive outlook Strong sense of selfStrong sense of self Control of the emotions and temperanceControl of the emotions and temperance Excellent communication skillsExcellent communication skills AwarenessAwareness AppearanceAppearance Tolerance and a strong sense of social justiceTolerance and a strong sense of social justice Self-motivation with regard to goal settingSelf-motivation with regard to goal setting A sense of humorA sense of humor HumilityHumility ……what’s missing?what’s missing?

Staying ThereStaying There Staying CurrentStaying Current

www.superintendentofschools.com AASAAASA NYSCOSSNYSCOSS Online and oldie-but -goodie resourcesOnline and oldie-but -goodie resources

Staying ThereStaying There Achieving Personal BalanceAchieving Personal Balance

The match, testing the watersThe match, testing the waters Going homeGoing home Setting dates and appointments with Setting dates and appointments with

family/friends/colleaguesfamily/friends/colleagues Take time for just Take time for just YOUYOU

OpportunitiesOpportunities Broad Urban Superintendent AcademyBroad Urban Superintendent Academy

- One Year - One Year - Non-Traditional Preparation – Business model- Non-Traditional Preparation – Business model- Rigorous Selection- Rigorous Selection- Rigorous Preparation- Rigorous Preparation

- Three Superintendents in Virginia- Three Superintendents in Virginia- Dr. Tim Jenney, Virginia Beach City- Dr. Tim Jenney, Virginia Beach City- Dr. Yvonne Brandon, Richmond City- Dr. Yvonne Brandon, Richmond City- Dr. Patricia Watkins, Prince Edward- Dr. Patricia Watkins, Prince Edward- All expenses paid- All expenses paid

Harvard Urban Superintendent Harvard Urban Superintendent ProgramProgram

Doctoral ProgramDoctoral Program Two Years Two Years Rigorous PreparationRigorous Preparation Expenses paid by studentsExpenses paid by students

- Dr. Wayne Harris, former - Dr. Wayne Harris, former Superintendent of Roanoke Superintendent of Roanoke- Dr. Deborah Jewel, former - Dr. Deborah Jewel, former Superintendent of Richmond City Superintendent of Richmond City- Dr. Arlene Ackerman, former - Dr. Arlene Ackerman, former Superintendent of Washington, D.C. Superintendent of Washington, D.C.

University of Columbia University of Columbia SuperintendentSuperintendent

Two YearsTwo Years Rigorous PreparationRigorous Preparation Expenses paid by studentsExpenses paid by students Summer ProgramSummer Program

The Urban Superintendents The Urban Superintendents Program - A Different Program - A Different

Approach to LeadershipApproach to Leadership To prepare the next generation of urban school To prepare the next generation of urban school

leadersleaders To increase the presence of well-qualified women To increase the presence of well-qualified women

and people of color to the leadership pools for and people of color to the leadership pools for America’s schoolsAmerica’s schools

To make it harder for the existing network to To make it harder for the existing network to reject new “non-traditional” aspirants to the reject new “non-traditional” aspirants to the urban superintendencyurban superintendency

To create a new network of support and To create a new network of support and mentoringmentoring

To share lessons learned and mistakes made with To share lessons learned and mistakes made with others interested in creating high quality others interested in creating high quality leadership programsleadership programs

MissionMissionMaking good teaching happen for every Making good teaching happen for every child, every day, in every classroom, is child, every day, in every classroom, is the single most important means by the single most important means by which public schools can deliver on their which public schools can deliver on their promise to enable all children to learn and promise to enable all children to learn and achieve at high levels.achieve at high levels.

Thank you to Thank you to

Suzanne L. Gilmour, Ph.D.Suzanne L. Gilmour, Ph.D.Executive Director, New York State Executive Director, New York State

Association Women in Association Women in AdministrationAdministration

andandDr. Robert Peterkin of Harvard Dr. Robert Peterkin of Harvard

Graduate SchoolGraduate Schoolforfor

providing information included providing information included herein.herein.