Widespread bias hinders the progress of women in the superintendency and other senior educational leadership roles, according to the first Insight Survey from Women Leading Ed, a national nonprofit network of women in education leadership.
Some 82% of survey respondents reported having felt external pressure to dress, speak or behave a certain way due to their gender — and those pressures are further amplified for women of color. The research released Tuesday found 55% of women of color “often” felt that pressure, compared to 36% of their White counterparts.
“It's a reality so ingrained and accepted that it's taken on the quality of wallpaper or background noise,” said Julia Rafal-Baer, CEO of Women Leading Ed, in a statement. “The survey results expose just how little has truly changed, despite women gaining some entry into top leadership. We are in the same spaces, but women are still required to play a different game."
The survey of more than 110 women was conducted between November 2023 and January 2024. Among its other highlights:
- 95% of women superintendents said they believe they have to make sacrifices their male colleagues did not.
- 57% reported being passed up or overlooked for advancement opportunities that went to male colleagues.
- 53% said they had salary conversations or negotiations where they felt their gender influenced the outcome.
- Of 60% who said the strain and stress of the job lead them to consider leaving, 75% said they think about doing so daily, monthly or weekly.
Additionally, the survey found women who became principals were much more likely to be coached into elementary or middle school roles, with only 18% of respondents having been prepared for and offered positions as high school principals.
This further illustrates the skewed pipeline women face when aspiring to top leadership roles, the survey report’s authors wrote. “High school principalships often yield more exposure to board members and community visibility — think graduation, football games, and basketball games. District-level roles are often filled from the ranks of high schools.”
To address this gender gap, Women Leading Ed aims to use its network to support and empower women rising through education leadership ranks, Rafal-Baer wrote in the survey report. Rafal-Baer is also cofounder and CEO of ILO Group, an educational leadership consultancy that produces the annual Superintendent Research Project, a comprehensive analysis of leadership in the nation’s 500 largest school districts.
“Our commitment to fixing this issue lies in creating a clear path to leadership for individuals who possess the talent, energy, and vision to make a significant impact on children’s lives,” Rafal-Baer said. “This includes women, people of color, and particularly women of color.”
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