In number, women make great strides
The times sure have changed for women school superintendents.
When Magdalene Giffune became superintendent of the Foxborough schools 16 years ago, she said, "you could put all the women superintendents in the state into a regular-size classroom and still have room left over. That's how few there were."
Women have made major strides since then and are still gaining. Three years ago, about one-third of school superintendents south of Boston were women. Now women are in charge in more than 40 percent -- 20 of 47 -- of the public school systems in the area.
Women superintendents' compensation packages, though, still lag behind men's. In this region, women are paid on average $9,000 less than men -- about $135,000 versus $144,000 -- this school year. Some women superintendents said the disparity reflects women on the job with less experience or who got later starts because they stayed home to raise families first.
Four women are in the first year on the job, including Patricia Oakley of West Bridgewater, who at $110,000 is the second-lowest paid superintendent in the area. Only two women -- Giffune of Milton and Irene Kaplan of Canton -- are among the 13 area superintendents who will earn more than $150,000 in 2006-07.
Across Greater Boston, about one-third of top school administrators are women. That compares favorably with a national average of about 17 percent of 13,000 superintendents, according to the American Association of School Administrators .
When Oakley began her career as a science teacher in West Bridgewater almost 20 years ago , the department was entirely male except for one other woman, who worked part time.
Now, in her first year at the helm, she has entered the territory of a historically male-dominated line of work and has been pleasantly surprised, she said.
Oakley said there were many more women than she expected when she showed up for her first meeting with area superintendents. "It was one of the first things that I noticed," she said.
The new superintendent in Carver , Elizabeth Sorrell , had a similar experience at an annual conference of the South Shore Roundtable , where about half of the member superintendents are women, she said .
"One of the guys looked around and said, 'Uh oh, we've been taken over by the women,' " she said. "They are joking, and are completely respectful. But they are acknowledging it."
June Doe , who also started this year, is the first woman to hold the position in Dedham . She said she sometimes feels the pressure. "It's important to me, obviously, that I do a really good job and that the decisions that I make carry a lot of benefit. I'm certainly aware that it's an important role," she said.
In light of the growing number of women in the field, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents developed a seminar and workshop series last year focusing on women leadership, said Thomas A. Scott , the organization's executive director .
Giffune said women have a different perspective and management style than men.
"Multitasking is inherent in what we do, and certainly no one has to teach us that," she said. "You have to juggle the household, be a partner to your spouse, and then be school superintendent."
Canton Superintendent Irene Kaplan suggested that while women have the skills for the job, they are still at a disadvantage.
"Traditionally, women have had a way of communicating well and responding to needs -- not that men don't, but it's a skill set that women have," she said. "Clearly, women are as competent as men in superintendency. But I'm not sure there is a public acceptance of that. There's still a competitive edge for men in high positions compared to women."
Eileen Williams of the Duxbury system, who has been a superintendent for roughly 20 years , said, "I think there are old stereotypes of, 'Can women make tough decisions, can they understand facilities' issues, can women understand budget and finance as well as a man?' I think those are all stereotypes that are alive and well, and other places have moved beyond that."
While some said differences in pay might be coincidence, others said it may reflect tenure, an area where men have the advantage. Women tend to start their careers later in life, said Sorrell.
"I think it has a lot to do with the calendar year, wanting to have time with family and children," she said. "Frankly, I wouldn't have changed my time line. My children are grown, and it's easier for me to work four nights a week. It's sometimes harder for women to make that move personally."
Matt Carroll of the Globe staff contributed to this story. Erin Conroy can be reached at econroy@globe.com. 