| Summary: | <p> Female superintendents, while not as rare as they once were, still remain underrepresented when one considers the number of women in the teaching, building leadership, and district leadership ranks. Bolman and Deal’s (2006) framework for leaders provided the context for the attributes attributed to leadership for the purpose of this study. Attributes are delineated as “care-giver, analyst, wizard, and warrior.” Participants shared their leadership positions, both formal and informal, as well as the mentors and coaches that have influenced them along the way. Additionally, the participants discussed the primary means of their own professional development that informs their work in district. Further, the superintendents interviewed discussed their leadership style and the perception of others in their respective districts. Questions that focused on the participants’ definition of success and the barriers to success added to the definition of themselves as leaders, as well as the experiences and perceptions of the leaders themselves. Huffington (2015) provides four lenses of leadership specific to women. These lenses are well-being, wisdom, wonder, and giving. More than using the language of caregiver, analyst, wizard, or warrior, the participants of this study spoke to the balance of working with people in a time of change and angst in education. They spoke to the well-being of their students and staff and caring about the future. Decisions were made to balance the competing needs of the stakeholders. Finally, the participants of this study spoke to the strength of their districts and their communities and the interdependence needed for everyone to thrive during this time of change in education.</p>
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