How Race and Gender Impact Female School Principals' Identities and Leadership Styles

• In Event: Roundtable Session 55
  In Roundtable Session: Female Adolescent Transitions: Accomplishments and Challenges

Abstract

Both race and gender play a strong role in the development of leadership styles and identity. Historically, women and minorities have been underrepresented in many leadership positions. However, the current state of education is calling for leaders who can be transformative and culturally responsive to the needs of diverse students. As such the traditional definition of the principal should be expanded to include dispositions to ensure student success. The purpose of this study was to examine the ways female principals see race and gender as a defining factor in their school leadership styles. Our results found that female school leaders’, are well equipped, despite their ethnicity, to handle the difficult issues that face students in our education system.

Authors

• Kelly Ann Brown, Prairie View A&M University

• Pamela Lee Gray, Sam Houston State University