Eighty percent of public school teachers are females, but only 24% of school superintendents are females. This upward trend from a low of 1.3% in the early 1970s has not mirrored the increase of females in executive level positions in other professions. A mixed-methods design identified the barriers that contribute to the under-representation and lack of growth of female superintendents. Participants in the study included active and retired female superintendents from a single Southern state. The quantitative phase consisted of a 29-item Likert-scale survey with 26 respondents. Qualitative follow-up included a three-part interview series design with four successful current and former female superintendents. The results have implications for institutions of higher education and professional organizations.