I didn’t know it would be this hard : the experiences of African American women’s transition to the assistant principalship
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Christina L. Richardson (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Carl Lashley
Abstract: This study examines the career transitions of Black women leaving the classroom for the assistant principalship. Overwhelmingly, Black women are underrepresented in school leadership roles. My goal is to understand what unique experiences and challenges African American women faced when transitioning from classroom leadership to school leadership in the role of the assistant principal and how they feel race and gender presented them unique challenges that they feel were different from those of their peers of different races or genders within predominantly White workplaces. In this semi-structured qualitative study, two rounds of interviews were conducted with four participants who identify as Black women assistant principals with two to four years of experience. Critical Race Theory was used as the theoretical framework to analyze the four participants’ responses. From the interviews and data analysis, four themes emerged to explain what the experiences are for Black women transitioning into school leadership and how their race and gender impacted their experiences. Participants expressed that teacher leadership roles were necessary building blocks in preparation for school leadership. However, the hiring process for an assistant principal’s positions was prolonged and difficult. Once the participants were hired as assistant principals, they did not receive the support, professional development, or job responsibilities to help them be successful in their new roles. This study contributes to the conversation on career transitions to school leadership and Black women in school leadership. This study extends the existing literature specific to the role and responsibilities of the assistant principal by focusing on the early years of the assistant principalship, honoring the roles intersectionality and Black women’s identity plays as one ascends the leadership ladder.
I didn’t know it would be this hard : the experiences of African American women’s transition to the assistant principalship
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Created on 12/1/2022
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2022
- Keywords
- Assistant principal, Black feminist thought, Black women, Career transition, Critical race theory, Intersectionality
- Subjects
- Assistant school principals $x Attitudes
- African American women school principals
- Educational leadership