School Boards that Hire Female Superintendents

Abstract

In a mailed survey, presidents of278 school boards in 19 western states were asked to describe the processes and procedures used in their most recent searches for a superintendent. In general terms, school boards which hired female superintendents were more likely to head urban and suburban systems, to be better educated, to have a higher social class, and to have a majority of females on the board By implication, the general increase in female school board members may lead to a general increase in female superintendents. This bodes well for America's school systems.