Women assistant principals average 13.2 teaching years before first principal bid
Why it matters: Understanding this disparity is crucial for promoting equitable leadership opportunities in education.
- University of Delaware Associate Professor Lauren P. Bailes is investigating the persistent underrepresentation of women in school leadership.
- Women assistant principals accumulate an average of 13.2 years of teaching experience before pursuing their first principal position.
- The study is the first to specifically examine the assistant principal role in relation to the gender gap in principalships.
New research highlights a significant gender disparity in school leadership, with women assistant principals averaging 13.2 years of teaching experience before seeking a principal role, a figure comparable to their male counterparts. This study, the first of its kind, aims to understand why men still dominate principal positions despite equivalent experience levels among aspiring female leaders.
