Date Approved
1-20-2026
Embargo Period
1-20-2028
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ed.D. Educational Leadership
Department
Educational Leadership
College
College of Education
Advisor
Cecile Sam, Ph.D.
Committee Member 1
Hajime Mitani, Ph.D.
Committee Member 2
MaryBeth Walpole, Ph.D.
Keywords
Double Bind;Feminist Institutional Perspective;Impostor Phenomenon;Mentoring;Role Congruity Theory;Second Generation Bias
Disciplines
Education | Educational Leadership
Abstract
Colleen Cancila THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN AND THEIR PURSUIT OF DISTRICT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND/OR A SUPERINTENDENT’S POSITION IN NEW JERSEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2025–2026 Cecile Sam, Ph.D. Doctor of Education The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of women PreK–12 district-level leaders in New Jersey public school districts. A greater understanding of how their experiences impacted their career trajectories provides insight into the gendered nature of the superintendency and the hierarchy of leadership in New Jersey public school districts. This qualitative, heuristic phenomenological study (Moustakes, 1990) investigated the experiences of 10 district-level leaders in New Jersey public school districts. The findings illuminated the intersection of gendered expectations, emotional labor, systemic barriers, and internalized norms that shaped how participants navigated leadership. Far from being solely a pursuit of prestige or power, their advancement was often fueled by moral conviction, resilience, and a desire to enact systemic change for students, educators, and families.
Recommended Citation
Cancila, Colleen, "The Experiences of Women and Their Pursuit of District Leadership Positions and/or a Superintendent's Position in New Jersey Public Schools" (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 3475.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/3475
