UCLA

The intent of this study was to understand the experiences of female superintendents, including those of color, serving in public school districts across California as they navigate the politics associated with culturally divisive conflict. The sample comprised 12 female superintendents serving various lengths of tenure in nine counties in Northern and Southern California. The research design was a qualitative phenomenological study that used a semistructured interview protocol. Study participants were asked to elaborate on their experiences with culturally divisive conflict, the strategies they employed in relation to their intersectional identities, and their recommendations for future female superintendents. Once data were collected, an inductive coding process was used. The data analysis revealed that the California female superintendents in this study experienced an escalation of routine issues into culturally divisive conflict; misinformation is rampant in the age of social media; conflict can escalate quickly when there is a ring leader who involves external national players; and there is a cost to culturally divisive conflict. To navigate culturally divisive conflict, female superintendents leveraged identity-conscious leadership strategies and employed the use of formal structures, proactive communication, and coalition building to stay focused on their district’s mission while counteracting gendered and racialized assumptions about their own competence. The findings also indicated that female superintendents recommended more robust executive coaching, mentorships, and networking, ensuring these learning opportunities are available earlier in their careers and focusing on aspects of the superintendency that females typically have less access to, such as specialized training in politics, governance, and contract negotiation. Having strong superintendent contract negotiation skills including securing severance packages and other essential financial provisions such as conducting a comparable salary analysis, could aid female superintendents in navigating contentious political environments with more confidence. Implications of this study have a wide audience—district superintendents, school board members, county and state officials, member organizations, nonprofits, and philanthropy—including male allies who play an important role in realizing more gender equity. Future research should focus on understanding all aspects of culturally divisive conflict because it jeopardizes democratic values of equal representation and human dignity for all.