Pathways to the Superintendency: Examining Educators' Career Paths

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 33
  In Roundtable Session: The Challenges and Opportunities of the Superintendency

Abstract

Despite comprising about 80% of the educator workforce, women hold only one in five superintendent positions. We use Missouri state personnel records to examine the career pathways of male and female superintendents, finding men are more likely to be promoted at all levels, and women on average held more positions before assuming the superintendency. Differences are particularly large in smaller districts with fewer intermediate leadership positions, though they are only partially explained by district contexts.

Authors

• Jason A. Grissom, Vanderbilt University

• Jennifer Timmer, Seton Hall University