Chapter 10: A Real Unicorn…: The Black Female Superintendent

Historically, there has been a scarcity of Black women leaders in an educational administrative role, Black women struggle to find mentors. Out of the 1,025 districts in Texas, only seven of the superintendents were African American women (Fields et al., 2019). The perception of Black female superintendents in our school districts confirms the anomaly, that is—the infamous unicorns, that there a limited number of Black female superintendents. However, the lack of the unicorn, Black female superintendents, can be attributed to several challenges including sexism, racism, ineffective recruitment and limited career advancement. It is imperative for career advancement that women make connections in the field and establish sponsorship. Tillman and Cochran (2000) examined why there is such little representation of Black women in the superintendency, their strengths relating to the position, and factors that contribute to their retention and success. Research by Robicheau and Krull (2016) suggests the need for leaders of color, because of their unique cultural and racial experiences that can help with understanding the needs of students, especially students of color. However, few research studies have focused on Black women in school leadership, particularly in the superintendent role.