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Although Canada is internationally known for its multicultural practices, the work life experiences of visible minority female school principals are unheard and absent from educational leadership research in Canada. In light of the fact that the student population in Canadian schools is increasingly diversifying, it is important to examine the experiences of visible minority female school principals from their own perspectives in order to gain a better understanding of their work life in the education system across Canada.<p> This research is a qualitative case study of the administrative work life experiences of five visible minority female school principals in five selected Western Canadian public schools. The purpose of the research was to examine and describe the administrative work life experiences of the selected visible minority female principals, with a particular focus on the path they took to become principals, the challenges they faced, and the strategies they used to foster inclusive schools. In-depth interviews were the main research method used in this study, supplemented by document and record analyses and the researchers reflective journal. Each of the five participants was interviewed three times in order to provide an in-depth analysis of their work experiences. The data were analyzed by using narrative and inductive analysis to let the participants tell their stories first and analyze the research questions inductively second. The results of this study revealed that the path to the principalship for visible minority female principals is influenced by multi-factors, personal abilities and strengths, challenges, supports, and preparatory and training programs. Each of the participants went through different processes to achieve their goal based on their own unique situations. This study also revealed the participants in their principal positions faced personal, professional, and organizational challenges related to gender, race, and accent. However, the participants regarded these challenges as opportunities for them to learn and to grow.<p> The strategies used to build inclusive schools by the five participants stemmed from the participants personal attributes, skills, support systems, and the contribution of their minority status. In their leadership positions, individuals set a clear mission, varied leadership styles, used reciprocal empowerment, demonstrated an ethic of care, acted as mentors, pursued networking, and mastered necessary positional knowledge.<p> This study provides recommendations for other visible minority female principals and visible minority female teachers who aspire to principal positions by identifying steps needed to prepare for the principalship; recommendations for Boards of Education on policy making and action as well as recommendations for professional development. Implications for future research are also set out. This study, while confirming the findings of the research done by other scholars, also has its own unique findings, and the five participants work life experiences provided five pictures of successful visible minority female school principals in Western Canadian public schools

Although Canada is internationally known for its multicultural practices, the work life experiences of visible minority female school principals are unheard and absent from educational leadership research in Canada. In light of the fact that the student population in Canadian schools is increasingly diversifying, it is important to examine the experiences of visible minority female school principals from their own perspectives in order to gain a better understanding of their work life in the education system across Canada.<p> This research is a qualitative case study of the administrative work life experiences of five visible minority female school principals in five selected Western Canadian public schools. The purpose of the research was to examine and describe the administrative work life experiences of the selected visible minority female principals, with a particular focus on the path they took to become principals, the challenges they faced, and the strategies they used to foster inclusive schools. In-depth interviews were the main research method used in this study, supplemented by document and record analyses and the researchers reflective journal. Each of the five participants was interviewed three times in order to provide an in-depth analysis of their work experiences. The data were analyzed by using narrative and inductive analysis to let the participants tell their stories first and analyze the research questions inductively second. The results of this study revealed that the path to the principalship for visible minority female principals is influenced by multi-factors, personal abilities and strengths, challenges, supports, and preparatory and training programs. Each of the participants went through different processes to achieve their goal based on their own unique situations. This study also revealed the participants in their principal positions faced personal, professional, and organizational challenges related to gender, race, and accent. However, the participants regarded these challenges as opportunities for them to learn and to grow.<p> The strategies used to build inclusive schools by the five participants stemmed from the participants personal attributes, skills, support systems, and the contribution of their minority status. In their leadership positions, individuals set a clear mission, varied leadership styles, used reciprocal empowerment, demonstrated an ethic of care, acted as mentors, pursued networking, and mastered necessary positional knowledge.<p> This study provides recommendations for other visible minority female principals and visible minority female teachers who aspire to principal positions by identifying steps needed to prepare for the principalship; recommendations for Boards of Education on policy making and action as well as recommendations for professional development. Implications for future research are also set out. This study, while confirming the findings of the research done by other scholars, also has its own unique findings, and the five participants work life experiences provided five pictures of successful visible minority female school principals in Western Canadian public schools

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For many decades, school leadership has been conceptualized in a variety of ways attempting to identify the critical elements necessary for effective school leadership. The expertise required for today's schools appears to be different from that required in the past, particularly as school leaders are expected to initiate change and "restructure" in order to obtain new and improved educational results. Traditional managerial skills, once deemed appropriate and effective for school administration, are now being replaced by styles that focus on cooperation and consideration, community building, open communication, and involvement with others. These behaviors appear to be present in women as they demonstrate their effectiveness in leadership roles as principals and superintendents. This descriptive study offers an in-depth look at the administrative behavior of three women. It documents their experiences and perspectives as high school principals. The purpose of the study is to contribute to the growing body of research on female leaders necessary to challenge the existing theories on school administration, which are based on traditional business management theory and formulated using an androcentric conceptual framework. Naturalistic inquiry guided the present study, which employed qualitative research methodology. Participant observations, complemented by interviews and reflective conversations, provided the data for analysis using grounded theory. A computer software program Ethnograph (Qualis, 1998) facilitated the organization and analysis of data. Case narratives, case reports, and a cross-case analysis report three women's behavior in their role as high school principals. Major conclusions include: (a) Each principal demonstrated a unique style of administrative behavior which seemed effectively matched to the needs of the school organization; (b) Each principal demonstrated a strong set of collegial or relational behaviors that focused on building community in order to support the school programs; and (c) Each principal demonstrated an ethic of care informed by a sense of fairness and loyalty to the policies and procedures associated with their bureaucratic organizational environment. The ethic of care that guided each principal's style suggests that these principals exercise a kind of power associated more with "effective agency" than with "command and control" power typically associated with traditional leadership. Additional research is needed to document the female leadership experience in schools in order to challenge and transform current administrative theory; research is also needed to explore the notion of "effective agency" as power. Practitioners, researchers, and other interested educational professionals are invited to use the behaviors identified in this study to reflect upon their own styles, because changing our schools is inevitably bound up with changing ourselves. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of African American female principals serving in high-poverty urban schools. This study was warranted due to the growing number of African American female principal leaders in urban schools over the last 20 years. School leaders in urban school districts are expected to increase academic achievement, support district initiatives, and foster the development of urban communities. The study results will serve as a source of information to educators on similar journeys.

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xii, 99 leaves / This study is concerned with the secondary school female principals in Kone-Kwena Cluster. It is undertaken to establish the challenges and success experienced by these female principals as they lead and manage secondary schools. The study also sought for the strategies on how to enhance their leadership and management roles. The researcher reviewed the existing literature on female leadership and management roles. The data were collected by means of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Interviews were conducted with ten (10) female principals and questionnaires were administered to forty (40) teachers who were selected from the staff members of these principals. Quantitative data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Qualitative data analysis was done thematically through organising it by separating it into a few workable units which were coded, described, categorised, and then developed into a pattern. Data collected was triangulated to seek convergence and corroboration of the results from the two methods. The findings were presented in rich descriptions, which also included anecdotes from participants. The key findings revealed an increase in the number of female principals in Kone-Kwena Cluster but there is still underrepresentation of female principals. The number of female principals is less than half of the male principals. The underrepresentation is revealed that it is due to female teachers’ reluctance to take up leadership positions, as was evidenced by their lower qualifications. Challenges such as lack of confidence, role conflict, stereotypes, negative teacher attitudes, lack of organisational support, and lack of succession plan, induction and mentoring programs for new principals were also revealed in the study as major contributory factors. The study revealed that female teachers’ participation in promotional positions can be enhanced by offering institutional support to female teachers, mentoring and further training and development.

本研究旨在從國中女性校長與家長會互動之實際經驗，以微觀之角度深入該場域現象，來探討女性校長與家長會互動之脈絡。首先探討八位女性校長與家長會互動之實際個別經驗，其次分析女性校長與家長會互動之方式與策略，最後提出結論與建議，供女性校長作為辦學之參考。 本研究係採質性研究方法，先尋求願意受訪校長，以訪談方式進行深入對話。共計八位分別任職於小型、中型及大型位居臺北縣市國中女性校長，採取深度的匯談，繼而分析並探討其與家長會互動之情形。 據此，本研究歸納出女性校長與家長會互動之實務經驗有兩部分：（一）互動共同部分；（二）互動不同及特殊部分。國中女性校長與家長會互動策略有：（一）塑造學校眾望所歸的願景與發展學校特色；（二）協助家長會組織健全發展，並提供其所需資源；（三）利用溝通管道，增進彼此雙方了解建立共識；（四）建立學校與家長會的合夥關係，共同討論校務發展；（五）和諧形塑學校優質文化；（六）落實學校本位管理與經營；（七）落實學校與家庭相關親職教育的訓練與進修活動；（八）建立家庭與學校之間的信賴與支持；（九）建立網際網路提昇管理效能的領導。互動策略之分類亦歸納如下：（一）逃避型－保持距離以策安全；（二）整合型－表面層次的合作；（三）單向型－一廂情願有溝沒有通；（四）合作型－攜手共創願景。 最後本研究提出下列建議：（一）對教育行政機關建議（二）對學校行政建議（三）對家長會建議（四）對師資培育機構建議（五）對女性校長建議（六）對後續研究建議 / This study discusses about the atmosphere of interaction models between female junior high school principals and parent-teacher association (PTA). The research approach is microscopic point of view from the practical experiences of the interactions between the two groups. Firstly it observes the personal practical experiences interacting with the PTA of eight female junior high school principals and secondly analyzes the strategies and means used within the communication between the two communities. Conclusions and suggestions are made in order to provide a future assistance for female principals. The research is based on qualitative research methods by holding up intensive discussions with the volunteering principals. Eight female junior high school principals from small, medium, and large-scaled junior high schools of either Taipei-city and Taipei-county attended the discussion by sharing with their own experiences. After generalizing these practical experiences we divide interactions types into two: 1) Similar Interaction Type, 2) The Different Interaction Type. The strategies within these interaction types may include: 1) Modeling a recognized future vision of the school and developing an academic feature 2) Assisting the PTA to be organized appropriately and offering needed resources 3) Increasing the understanding between each other in order to reach for certain consensus by using available communication interchannels 4) Building up a companionship between the school and the PTA and sharing the discussion of future development of the school 5) Modeling an harmonically high-graded school-culture and atmosphere 6) Ensuring a management of a school-centered management and administration 7) Ensuing a familial-parental education further trainings and related activities 8) Establishing the trust and support between the families and the school 9) Establishing inter-nets to increase the management leadership efficiency The generalization upon these strategies can be classified into four types: 1) The Run-Away type: Keep in distance for safety 2) The Integrating type: A corporation that is only skin deep 3) The Single-way type: Communicating without communication 4) The Cooperating type: Building up a future vision together. Keywords: parent-teacher association, PTA, female junior high school principals, female principals, interaction experiences

Guided by family/work border theory, this phenomenological study explored the effects of stress while attempting to balance work and home through the lens of six high school female principals from the Central and Northern parts of California. This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to examine the effects stress had on the physical and mental health of participants. Phenomenological interviews provided a rich description of the lived experiences of female high school principals. A thorough analysis of data exposed six distinct themes: (a) work became the priority, (b) coping mechanisms, (c) implications of being a woman, (d) lonely at the top, (e) blurred boundaries, and (f) the need for more support. Study participants’ experiences provide insight into the primary sources of stress, how stress affected their physical and mental health, the effect their stress had on their home domain, and how participants coped with the stress. Findings from this study address ways stress can be minimized to better balance work and home.