Implications of the “Glass Cliff” Phenomenon for Women Leaders in Independent Schools

• In Event: Challenges and Resistance of Women of Color

Abstract

This proposal takes up this year’s call for making “justice irresistible” in that which relates to gender and gendered racism in our leadership pipeline. As the call also suggests, COVID-19 made the needs for such changes more expedient, as we saw women across the workforce, including in education, leaving at rates far higher than their male counterparts. At the same time women were exiting, so too do we believe a secondary phenomenon occurred – specifically that of the “glass cliff” in which women and people of color were granted leadership opportunities only when organizations are deemed to be in decline. In this mixed method study, we explore this hypothesis as it relates to independent school leadership.

Authors

• Sarah Odell, The Hewitt School

• Jennie Weiner, University of Connecticut

• Lauren P. Bailes, University of Delaware

• Daron E. Cyr, The Hewitt School

• Julie M Kallio, The Breck School