Women on the move.

In preparing for this issue, I was curious to see what the latest statistical studies had to say about the gender makeup of the superintendency. AASA's most recent report, issued in 2006, indicated nearly 22 percent of superintendents nationwide were now women. A survey in 2000 pegged it at 16 percent.

From my own unscientific collection of data from a handful of states this summer, I'd comfortably suggest that women's representation in the top posts is likely to show marked gains when the next formal AASA study of the superintendency is completed in 2010. In Washington state, 28 percent of the 43 superintendent searches over the past year led to female appointments. In Georgia, 10 of 29 vacancies in 2008-09 were filled by women. The New York State Council of School Superintendents' latest trends report calculated women were named superintendents in nearly 50 percent of the 69 slots filled in 2006.

Of course, it would be premature to suggest any sort of equilibrium will soon be reached. This month's cover story by two sociologists, Alice Eagly and Linda Carli, paints an intriguing picture of the forces affecting women in all public leadership roles. Eagly and Carli replace the glass ceiling metaphor that's become so familiar with a more complex set of obstacles to reach the highest rungs on the leadership ladder, a labyrinth. In related articles, we examine the self-imposed barriers women place in their path to the superintendency and spark your thinking about the merits of machismo vs. mamisma in leading a school system.

These issues have considerable bearing on the direction of the profession and deserve our attention and yours. As such, I look forward to fielding your reactions.

Jay P. Goldman

Voice: 703-875-0745

E-mail: [e-mail]