This book pulls together leading scholars who focus on the topic of women as superintendents. The four parts include 13 chapters. Part 1, "Crawling Through the Window of a Dream--Surveying the Terrain," includes (1) "'Turning Out the Ladies': Elected Women Superintendents and the Push for the Appointive System, 1900-1935" (Jackie M. Blount) and (2) "Women and the Superintendency: What Do We Really Know?" (Marilyn Tallerico). Part 2, "'Do It Anyway'--Gaining Access," includes (3) "The Role of Search Consultants in the Career Paths of Women Superintendents" (Estelle Kamler and Charol Shakeshaft); (4) "Power, Gender, and Superintendent Selection" (C. Cryss Brunner); (5) "Climbing Hills and Mountains: Black Females Making it to the Superintendency" (Judy A. Alston); and (6) "Seeking and Selecting Hispanic Female Superintendents" (Flora Ida Ortiz). Part 3, "'Small but Brilliant' - Living the Life," includes (7) "The First Years: What Should a Female Superintendent Know Beforehand?" (Barbara Nelson Pavan); (8) "Redefinition of Self: Mexican-American Women Becoming School Superintendents" (Sylvia E. Mendez-Morse); (9) "Getting Inside History - Against All Odds: African-American Women School Superintendents" (Barbara L. Jackson); and (10) "Dancing in Red Shoes: Why Women Leave the Superintendency" (Cynthia Beekley). Part 4, "'One's True Song'-- Authenticating Research," includes (11) "'Back Talk' from a Woman Superintendent: Just How Useful is Research?" (C. Cryss Brunner); (12) "A Feminist Poststructuralist Account of Collaboration: A Model for the Superintendency" (Margaret Grogan); and (13) "Thoughtful Practice: Responding with Questions from the Superintendency" (Debra Jackson). (SM)