Date of Award

Spring 5-19-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Organizational Leadership

First Advisor

Timothy McCarty

Second Advisor

Laurie Goodman

Third Advisor

Charles Young

Fourth Advisor

keth Larick

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative multicase study was to describe the career path progression and the gatekeeping experiences as Latinas advanced to a superintendent position. The second purpose of this study was to describe the gatekeeping experiences of Latina superintendents’ application and interview process of their superintendency. Additionally, this study described Latina superintendents’ gatekeeping experiences of gender and ethnicity. Last, this study examined the strategies that Latina superintendents used as they ascended to their superintendent positions. Methodology: This phenomenological multicase study was conducted through interviews of five Latina superintendents of California public schools. The researcher selected a qualitative method because it described the gatekeeping experiences Latina superintendents encountered as well as the strategies they used to ascend to the superintendency position. Findings: Numerous outcomes emerged from the analysis of interview data from five Latina superintendents. Participants attested that gatekeeping was opened due to mentorship and understanding the culture of the district’s community. Speaking Spanish fluently attributed to the advancement in predominately Hispanic communities and was perceived to have made the strongest impact in the Latina superintendents’ career path. Conclusions: The researcher’s initial motivation for writing about Latina superintendents stems from her experience as a Latina working in education and seeing few Latinas in

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