'On the inside looking out, here I stand:' A study of African American female public school superintendents

The purpose of this study was to learn, first-hand, from African American female public school superintendents about those factors related to race and gender they perceived to enhance and/or impede their efforts to become superintendents and to enhance and/or impede their performance in the superintendency.;Twelve African American females who have served or are still serving in the superintendency were recruited to participate in this study. Each participant was interviewed one or two times.;Analysis of the data revealed that each superintendent at some point in her career experienced issues of both race and gender discrimination. However, they refused to let those barriers negatively impact their opportunities to make a difference in the lives of children. They accepted any barrier as a challenge.;The stories and experiences of these superintendents can help researchers, educational institutions, and African American women aspiring to the superintendency more deeply understand how members of this underrepresented group dealt with the challenges and issues of race and gender while becoming superintendents and in the superintendency.;Four recommendations based on the findings are: (1) the inclusion of more female practitioners on university faculties; (2) the provision of mentors and internships with women for women who are interested in becoming superintendents; (3) the engagement of women speakers (superintendents) in the classrooms of college campuses; and (4) the inclusion of the stories and experiences of more African American female public school superintendents in the literature of educational research.