School boards have oversight of the superintendent, budgets, and much more. They help to establish the policies that can hinder or support the success of their leaders. As we look at the current research, there are a few things school boards can do to help ensure their support of women in educational leadership roles. The school board can set expectations for ensuring that the stories of success that percolate from their schools include those of the women who serve as leaders. Keeping with our top five approaches, here are five choices school boards can do to ensure that they are supporting women leaders in education.
- Foster a culture of inclusivity and equity: School boards can work to create a culture that values diversity and supports women in leadership roles. This can include developing policies and practices that promote equity and inclusion, and ensuring that women have equal access to leadership opportunities.
- Provide professional development and mentorship opportunities: School boards can provide professional development and mentorship opportunities for women in leadership roles, which can help them to build skills, gain knowledge, and develop a network of support.
- Encourage and support leadership training programs: School boards can encourage and support women to participate in leadership training programs, such as those offered by universities, professional organizations, and other educational institutions.
- Advocate for policies that support work-life balance: School boards can advocate for policies that support work-life balance, such as flexible scheduling, paid family leave, and child care assistance. These policies can help to support women in leadership roles who may be juggling multiple responsibilities.
- Recognize and celebrate the achievements of women leaders: School boards can recognize and celebrate the achievements of women leaders in education, which can help to raise awareness of their contributions and inspire other women to pursue leadership roles.
School boards can help to create a supportive and inclusive environment for women in educational leadership roles, which can help to ensure that they have the opportunity to contribute their unique perspectives and skills to the improvement of education for all students.