Exploring the Systemic Resistance to Gender Equality in Education Leadership with Julia Rafal-Baer

On this episode of More Than a Test, host Laura Glaab is joined by Julia Rafal-Baer, an advocate for women in educational leadership. They discuss the challenges faced by women in education, including the lack of representation in top leadership positions and the bias they encounter throughout their careers. Julia shares her own experiences and the initiatives she has started, such as Women Leading Ed and the Forum for Educational Leadership, to support women in advancing their careers. They also highlight the need for systemic changes in the education system to better support and promote women leaders. The episode addresses the intersectionality of gender and race, the importance of diversity in leadership roles, and the impact of biases in hiring processes. They explore tangible actions that can be taken to accelerate change, including creating support systems, addressing bias in hiring, and promoting transparency in salaries.
Timestamps[00:02:56] ILE Group has a dual focus - supporting current leaders and training the next generation. A public database was created to address the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles, showing a wider gender gap than expected. Turnover rates among leaders have increased, but men still dominate top positions. When women leave their jobs, men often replace them, impacting leadership stability. Education's promise of opportunity is undermined without diverse leadership.
[00:08:34] Julia highlights the lack of empathy for individuals being attacked in board meetings and the challenges faced by schools due to reduced funds from COVID. They also discuss the difficulty in women securing leadership roles in education and question why the system is resistant to change.
[00:09:59] Bias in leadership turnover and search processes affects the representation of women. Support systems, sponsorship, diverse finalist pools, and bias training are crucial to accelerating change. Off-limits questions and upfront commitments should be part of the hiring process to prevent biased decisions.
[00:14:40] Bias, societal expectations, and lack of diverse leadership examples are prevalent. There needs to be family and well-being support.
[00:18:35] In 2018, the Chief Operating Officer noticed a gender disparity in the success of the Future Chiefs program. In response, they hosted a meeting for women and showed them the data, leading to the creation of Women Leading Ed. Within two years, the program helped surpass the men in superintendent placements. They also launched the Forum for Educational Leadership and now have over 100 women in Women Leading Ed with over 400 signatures to their advocacy agenda.
Connect with Julia Rafal-BaerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrafal/Website: https://www.ilogroup.com/