Gender Differences in the Career Paths of Educational Administrators in Pennsylvania.

This study explored possible gender differences between the career paths of incumbent educational administrators holding the positions of superintendent, assistant superintendent, secondary principal, and elementary principal. Study data had been obtained from an earlier comprehensive survey of 622 incumbent and aspiring Pennsylvania administrators. That study explored five areas: career pathways, job search strategies, time usage, mentors and their functions, and barriers experienced with strategies to overcome them. The present study, which did not include aspirants, focused on line versus staff career patterns, the use of leaves, the number of moves among districts, degrees obtained, age at beginning administrative positions, and family characteristics. A majority of respondents pursued a line career path, with men (71 percent) more likely than women (52 percent) to have one. For both the superintendency and the elementary principalship, line paths were followed by men (82 percent) and women (54 percent). Both genders used line paths to reach the secondary principalship. For the assistant superintendency, women followed a staff path (73 percent) and men a line path (54 percent). Results for leaves, district moves, length of teaching service, and age and family characteristics are also discussed. Recommendations for practitioners are provided, including the importance of obtaining line positions, developing employment strategies for females, reviewing hiring and promotion standards and analyzing them for equity, and encouraging support groups. Recommendations for further research are also provided. Included are 14 references and 11 tables. (MLH)