Women Leading Schools Worldwide: Issues of Access and Practice

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

12:00 PM-1:30 PM

Women continue to be under represented in the leadership of K-12 schooling in most countries of the world, including the USA, a situation commonly attributed to societal perceptions of gender roles that work against women accessing school leadership positions. School leadership, and the training for this leadership where it exists, has been shaped by male practitioners; women who access school leadership have few female role models or mentors to guide them in critical refection of their leadership style and their potential for advocacy and social justice, particularly with regard to the girl child. Dr. Sperandio will present opportunities to consider best practice in preparing women for leadership and measures that could be adopted to ensure their equal representation in leadership and decision-making at the school level worldwide.

About The Speaker:

Jill Sperandio received her BA Hons from University College of Wales, Aberystwyth UK., her MEd from Worcester State College, Massachusetts, and her PhD from University of Chicago. Following a career in teaching and school leadership in international schools worldwide, she is currently an associate professor in the educational leadership program in the College of Education, Lehigh University teaching graduate courses in organizational structure and change, qualitative research, and teacher supervision and professional development. Dr. Sperandio’s research is focused on social justice issues connected with women’s access to the leadership of K-12 schooling internationally. She has conducted fieldwork in Uganda, Bangladesh, India, Ghana, and most recently in Pennsylvania where she has examined women’s progress to the school district superintendency. She has published numerous book chapters and articles, including several in Gender and Education. Dr. Sperandio is a founding member of Women Leading Education across Continents (WLE).

About the Global Education Colloquium:
 
Established in November 2013, the Global Education Colloquium is a monthly Brown Bag Lunch Series that features distinguished speakers and lively discussion.

The topics presented will be the result of research spanning the full range of learning, teaching and training topics including international studies, higher education, peace education, social justice, inequality, politics of knowledge, policy, leadership and organizational change.
 
GEC events are held the third Tuesday of every month on the main campus of Drexel University, start promptly at 12 Noon. You are invited to bring your lunch. Drinks and cookies will be served.

Learn more about the Global Education Colloquium Series.

Contact Information

Stephanie Boysen
215–895-0900
SOEeventRSVP@drexel.edu