Abstract
Purpose. A purpose of this study was to describe the career (extrinsic) and personal (intrinsic) factors perceived by K-12 minority women central office administrators (Directors, Assistant Superintendents, Associate Superintendents, Deputy Superintendents in California) who facilitated or inhibited their promotion for (or desire to pursue) the Superintendency. Secondly, the study sought to determine if there was a significant difference between the perceptions of minority women according to their ethnicity and leadership positions. Methodology. A mixed descriptive qualitative and causal-comparative quantitative research study, utilizing an on-line survey and semi-structured in-depth telephone interviews, was conducted from 2009 to 2010. Findings. Findings from this study revealed that intrinsic motivators were of greater importance to minority women than other factors. The highest rated factors were; Desire to make a positive impact on people, ability to initiate change and desire to be an instructional leader. Also key was the fact that Asians found inhibitors more important than Latinas/Hispanics or Black/African Americans. Asian groups rated inhibitors as more significant than did any other group. Directors rated the specific factor "Fear of failure" as the most important inhibitor to the superintendency. Few minority subjects wished to purse the superintendency. Conclusions: Overall, Intrinsic motivators were the factors that encouraged candidates and increased their desire to pursue the superintendency. Minority subjects were committed to their roles in education, but did not wish to enter the political arena unless supported, mentored and recruited for the position. Asians respondents were influenced more by inhibitors than the other two minorities. The number of survey respondents was relatively small due to the specificity of the study, the study does provide a basis for a more expansive study. Recommendations. It is recommended that the following be conducted: 1. A replication of this study with a larger targeted population. 2. A study that describes why specific ethnicities rate inhibitors of more importance than motivators. 3. State databases should include demographic information regarding educators' ethnicities and positions held. 4. A study that looks at the support of or lack of support for superintendent candidates from board members.