narrative study exploring how women of color leaders meaning-making shape their professional and personal experiences in K-12 international schools

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20324112

Women encounter challenges as leaders in education in the United States and internationally, but women of color face larger chasms in moving through the ranks of education. Societal views and structures have influenced the underrepresentation of women moving into the higher rank of a superintendent position. Overcoming this oppression of women and minorities is a difficult feat, particularly when the career path is complex. The male dominance is influential and women have difficulty reaching top level positions even though they are qualified. Research is limited on women superintendents, and rare with women of color superintendents. Women of color in international schools face similar challenges to superintendence or headship positions in the USA. Women superintendents face gender bias, reinforcing the glass ceiling. This study used Mezirow's (1978) Transformative Theory that aligned and supported the meaning-making of five women of color superintendents. This study employed a qualitative narrative research design. Narrative analysis included inductive and deductive approaches. Keywords: underrepresentation, women of color, superintendent, glass ceiling, international schools