Sacred Dreams : Women and the Superintendency

Although women have dominated the teaching ranks at all levels of education since the turn of the century, men occupy 93 percent of superintendency jobs. Considering the nationwide concern that superintendency positions will be vacated faster than they can be filled during the next decade, it's quite possible that women are the greatest untapped pool of capable candidates. As women think about, seek, and accept superintendency assignments, they need a resource like Sacred Dreams that offers both practical advice from those who have attained this rank and research results from those who have studied the situation. Such an understanding has the potential not only to increase the number of women in the position, but also to increase their likelihood of success.

Judy A. Alston is an assistant professor in the educational leadership and cultural studies department at the University of Houston Jackie M. Blount is an assistant professor in the deparment of curriculum and instruction at Iowa State University C. Cryss Brunner is an assistant professor in the department of educational administration at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Susan Chase is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Tulsa Margaret Grogan is an assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the Curry School of Education, University of Virginia Barbara L. Jackson is professor and chair of the division of administration, policy, and urban education at the Graduate School of Education, Fordham University, in New York City Debra Jackson is superintendent of schools of North Salem Central School District in New Jersey Estelle Kamler is superintendent of schools in New York. Sylvia E. Mendez-Morse is an assistant professor in the bilingual multicultural education program at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico Flora Ida Ortiz is professor of educational administration at the University of California, Riverside Barbara Nelson Pavan, professor of Educational Administration at Temple University Patricia A. Schmuck is a professor and chair of the department of educational administration at Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon Charol Shakeshaft is a professor and chairperson of administration, policy studies, and literacy at Hofstra University Marilyn Tallerico is an associate professor in the teaching and leadership program at Syracuse University