The Midwest Women's Leadership Institute at Minnesota State University did not occur by chance nor did it happen quickly. Rather, it was the direct result of the work, support, and dedication of a number of people committed to strengthening leadership opportunities for women in higher education. In this article, the author relates how the…

For those who have embraced the discussion of social justice issues at recent academic conferences, the book, "Writing to Change the World," by Mary Pipher offers the perspective of an author who has written extensively and successfully about social justice issues. The author's "take aways" from the book, however, were in the chapters that offered…

In this article, the author presents and discusses some of the lessons she has learned in everyday leadership. It's the kind of leadership one learns when he or she doesn't expect it--and the kind of lessons one teaches when he or she doesn't even know he or she is doing it.

This is an analysis of equity in Iowa educational leadership from the 1978-1979 school year through 2007-2008, and the extent to which rapidly changing student racial demographics are reflected in the schools. We found that male principals continue to outnumber women 6:1 in rural districts, but in urban schools the rate is closer to 1:1. Female…

This biographical study features the leadership of Joan Miller Wint, now retired, who for 23 years was principal of Denbigh High School, located in a high-poverty rural area in Jamaica. In the article I examine biography as a qualitative research strategy used in "telling" the stories of women leaders; explore the influence of Wint's early life…

A mixed methods study was conducted to examine female juvenile delinquents' opinions and reactions on nine language-based literacy activities. Forty-one participants ranging in age from 13 to 18 years responded to a survey consisting of nine multiple-choice items and one open-ended question concerning the usefulness of activities. Quantitative and…

This article profiles Madame C. J. Walker. Sarah Breedlove was born on December 23, 1867, the fifth of six children of Owen and Minerva Breedlove. Sarah was the first of the Breedlove children to be born after the end of slavery. Her parents died when she was six or seven years of age. At age fourteen she married Moses McWilliams, who also died in…

We all have stories--beautiful and ugly stories--neat ending and never ending stories. When personal narratives, the stories that come closest to the human experience, are used as pedagogy, they can be windows offering views of different worlds and people. In this way, personal narratives become lanterns that illuminate the real and imagined…

In this article, the authors show the perspective on women's leadership in Europe. The authors present the European data on the educational status of girls and women at schools and universities and in academic careers. Data from Germany is presented as an example to provide evidence of some details. First, the authors point out four contradictions…

School districts are faced with challenges resulting from the changing demographics of the student population. Consequently, school districts are creating positive, multicultural learning environments. School districts intent on establishing multicultural learning environments should consider the contributions people of color, specifically women…

In this article, the author discusses how women have struggled to be acknowledged as leaders in society. Setting herself as an example, the author relates her experience of leadership as a young mother of four. She stresses that her experience enabled her to understand the inner conflicts that women deal with and to accept that whether a woman…

The most promising sights of spring in Nebraska this year were two conferences for women. One event, sponsored by Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, was a Women's History Month Tea. A second conference was the meeting of the Nebraska Women in Higher Education. These two events suggest that there is a continuing interest in women's leadership…

This study was an attempt to add the voices of women to the discourse of school leadership. It focused on the nature of the middle school leadership experiences of three female middle school principals, their social interactions based on gender role expectations and their own leadership perspectives. Findings suggest that middle school leadership…

Women in 2009 are earning advanced degrees in record numbers, yet they are shying away from careers in higher education. The demands of motherhood, coupled with a lack of family friendly policies in the academic workplace make life in the academy less desirable for a new generation of female scholars. The purpose of this article is to explore the…

This case highlights one principal's struggle to reconcile his philosophy of full inclusion with the best interests of a student with serious emotional disturbance. It raises a number of issues that bring to light challenges posed by a system of full inclusion. It also provides an opportunity for educational leadership students and administrators…