DESCRIPTORS Administrator Attitudes; Administrator Role; Educational Administration; Elementary Secondary

The literature concerning the superintendency is based on the experiences of men. This paper presents findings of the two studies that examined women superintendents. The first, a pilot study, sought to determine whether women superintendents used leadership qualities that fit a new paradigm for leadership. It also sought to determine if differences existed between urban and rural female superintendents ' leadership qualities. Data were obtained from a survey of 346 women superintendents in 29 states. A total of 263 responses were received, a 76 percent response rate. Telephone interviews were also conducted with 21 urban and 30 rural survey respondents. The most striking conclusion was that both rural and urban superintendents possessed similar leadership qualities, and those qualities fit a new paradigm for leadership. Both groups received b satisfaction by bringing about change, reaching out t