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Career Aspirations of Women in District Level Educational Administration
Mugridge, Carrie Lynn
Mugridge, Carrie Lynn
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Abstract
This is a qualitative analysis of women working in district level administration in Northeast Kansas who hold their district level administration licenses. It seeks to understand and gain insight into women who reach the role of district level administration leadership and discover their career path, future aspirations, and any challenges or bias they face as women in leadership. Specifically, if these women aspire to become superintendents in their future careers.The participants in this study shared a traditional career path of a classroom teacher, mostly at the elementary level, moving to building leadership before obtaining a position at the district level administration level. The women interviewed were very happy and satisfied in their positions. Most made a conscious decision to become district level administration leaders and, most importantly, stay in these positions and not move to the superintendent position. The women spoke of a push into leadership, a nudge to pursue leadership from a peer, family member, or supervisor. Once the women became leaders, they wanted to make a change for the better for their students and their school district and communities.The women shared stories of gender bias and the need to feel that they must prove themselves and earn their advancement in their careers. The term “good old boys” club was used by many of the interviewees. The interviewees also spoke frequently of the stress of balancing work and family, the women mentioned this as one of the main reasons they did not desire to become a superintendent. The women stated that they did not wish to pursue such career advancement because they were close to retirement, happy in their current position, had reached their career aspiration in a district level administration position, or had negative connotations surrounding the superintendent position.
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Date
2023-01-01
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University of Kansas
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This item contains archived web content.
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983686_1.pdf
Adobe PDF, 1.39 MB
- Embargoed until 2173-05-31
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Keywords
Educational administration, Career Aspirations, District-Level Administration, Women Superintendency