1. Superintendent In(Queer)y
Towards a New Theory of Leadership
Jocelyn Dumaresq, EdD Doctoral Candidate

2. Research Questions
✤
This study seeks to explore the experiences of queer superintendents
in order to suggest a queer leadership theory of practice.
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What are the experiences of queer superintendents?
✤
How has their identity as a queer leader mediated their
leadership practices?
✤
What do their experiences suggest for a queer theory of
leadership practice?

3. Theoretical Framework
✤
Queer Theory
✤
Judith Butler - the Heterosexual Matrix
✤
Michel Foucault - language and power
✤
Jonathan Silin - silence
✤
Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick - the closet

4. Research Design
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15 semi-structured interviews of queer superintendents, assistant
superintendents and district-level administrators
✤
Narrative Analysis (Clandinin & Connelly)
✤
✤
A deeper look into 3 interviews
Grounded Theory (Strauss & Corbin)
✤
A look across all 15 interviews

5. Key Findings
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RQ 1: Experiences
✤
✤
Overt discrimination, attempts to pass as straight,
overcompensation, distancing, small support networks
RQ 2: Leadership
✤
Sexuality had an impact on habits of mind, decision-making,
policy passing
✤
Sensitivity was a common leadership quality
✤
The theme of regret (role model, broad changes)

6. Personal Impact
✤
Going through the EdD program and dissertation process has
affected me by...
✤
Allowing me to meet and interact with queer role models in
positions of power
✤
Reinforcing my role as an advocate for change in my personal and
professional life

7. Professional Impact
✤
Going through the EdD program and dissertation process
has made me a better
✤
Leader - using research and theory in practice
✤
Thinker - considering ideas, decisions and actions more
critically
✤
Scholar - improving my academic and professional
reading and writing

8. District Impact
✤
A call for
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More inclusive HR policies
✤
✤
Partner benefits, equal opportunity job protection
More sensitive and inclusive hiring practices

9. Wider Impact
✤
A call for
✤
Diversified teacher and leadership preparation
✤
✤
Participants noted a distinct lack of queer issues in programs
A national support network of queer leaders
✤
Participants viewed networking favorably

10. Wider Impact
✤
A call for
✤
Diversified teacher and leadership preparation
✤
✤
Participants noted a distinct lack of queer issues in programs
A national support network of queer leaders
✤
Participants viewed networking favorably