The pathway for women to reach the superintendency in the United States is shaped by entrenched systems that resist progress. Women are often unfairly blamed for their lack of representation, which then perpetuates the notion that they are less suited for leadership. However, women are proving their capabilities by dismantling societal barriers, drawing on, and sharing their lived experiences, and transforming perceptions of female leadership. This study investigated the lived experiences of five female superintendents to reveal the specific actions and strategies that empowered them to achieve the superintendency. Utilizing Seidman’s three-interview approach, data were gathered through individual interviews, which were then analyzed thematically. The participants successfully navigated societal challenges by harnessing their unique strengths to influence, mobilize, and build strategic alliances. They seized key opportunities in their journeys and cultivated their skills, talents, and potential. The women did not merely adapt to existing structures; they actively created new opportunities for themselves, their communities, and future generations.

This study examines the Adversity Quotient (AQ) and resilience of deans in colleges of education in Central Luzon, Philippines, within the context of higher education leadership. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, the research first employed the Adversity Quotient Profile Questionnaire with 15 purposively selected deans to measure resilience across four dimensions: Control, Origin and Ownership, Reach, and Endurance. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted to provide deeper insights into the quantitative findings. Results revealed a high overall AQ score, with Control and Endurance emerging as the strongest dimensions and Reach identified as an area for growth. Significant relationships were found between AQ and socio-demographic factors, including age, tenure, civil status, and economic status, with effect sizes confirming their practical importance. Thematic analysis of interviews highlighted three resilience strategies: Adaptive Leadership, Support Networks, and Vision-Driven Resilience, illustrating how socio-demographic predictors are reinforced by personal adaptability, relational supports, and mission-driven leadership. The findings demonstrate that resilience in educational leadership is shaped by the interplay of individual, social, and institutional factors. The study contributes to the theoretical discourse on AQ in non-Western academic contexts and offers practical implications for leadership training, mentorship, and policy development in higher education.

Teacher collaboration appears essential for creating a dynamic and effective educational environment that supports teachers' professional learning and growth. In various research studies, supportive school leadership has been identified as a key condition for collaborative teacher learning, which enhances teachers’ engagement and professional learning by fostering a climate of trust. Bangladesh is still struggling with the orthodoxy of leadership, which suggests a hierarchical relationship between followers and leaders, posing considerable constraints on teachers' collaboration in the school environment. Applying semi-structured interviews with thematic analysis as a data analysis instrument, this study aimed to explore the existing collaborative practices among secondary school teachers in Bangladesh and the school leaders’ approach to teachers’ collaborative practices through the lens of transformational leadership constructs. The study found a scarcity of teachers' collaborative functions in the school environment and insignificant school leadership support for teachers' collaboration. Teachers encounter considerable constraints, both individually and institutionally, due to excessive workload, inadequate infrastructure, attitudinal issues, and problems with leadership approaches. The study has implications for fostering transformational leadership, as it highlights the constructive impact on teachers' collaboration, given the noticeable absence of transformational leadership practices. Finally, the study provides recommendations for policy-level reform in designing and implementing training and professional development programs for both teachers and school leaders, with a focus on collaborative practices in similar contexts.