Women Who Lead At A State Education Agency: Five Lives

Abstract

This is an educational leadership study based on the lives of five women who held the post of director or higher in a State Education Agency. While much has been written about women in school and district administration, less is known of women who fill the top posts in administration at the state level. This study examines five such women leaders' lives and careers in detail. The study is conducted from a feminist point of view, using a life history approach. The women who participated in this study shared stories of their childhood and upbringing; they described their early schooling experiences, and they talked about the significant relationships in their lives. They spoke of obstacles and opportunities, and of pivotal events that shaped them. The research resonates with their voices and focuses on the role of gender, diversity and gender equity in educational leadership. Findings reveal the values, perspectives, goals, and behaviors of a group of women who range in age from 45 to 60. The study explores their early perceptions of gender, race and class, and how each influenced their lives and careers. Each woman provides her input in defining a feminine leadership style. The study concludes with a discussion of post-heroic leadership, feminization of an organization, and a leadership primer for girls and boys and their parents, based on the findings from the life history research.