Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Education (Ed.D.)

Department

Administrative and Instructional Leadership

First Advisor

Catherine DiMartino

Second Advisor

Stephen Kotok

Third Advisor

James Coviello

Abstract

This qualitative study explored how LGBTQ+ school administrators perceive the influence of their lived experiences on their leadership qualities. Additionally, this study examined post-closet growth, closet adaptations, and how legal protections influence LGBTQ+ school administrators. A narrative methodology was employed to shed light on the lived experiences of participants. A mix of purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling was used for this study. The researcher recruited school administrators from public school districts and private schools located in the Northeastern United States. School administrators include positions such as assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, director, superintendent, and head of school. Eight participants took part in two to three rounds of semi-structured interviews, each round lasting approximately 45 minutes to one hour. The sample included five males who identify as gay, two females who identify as lesbian, and one participant who identifies as male-to-female transgender. Seven participants in this study are White and one participant is Hispanic (Mexican American). The theoretical framework that guided this study was the Queering of the Closet, which is a cohesion of the Developmental Model of the Closet (Pachankis and Jackson, 2023) and queer theory. The theoretical framework and the narrative methodology amplified the voices of LGBTQ+ school administrators while highlighting the lived experiences that influenced their leadership qualities. Data analysis included two rounds of coding and thematic analysis of the participant responses. The findings from this study revealed that all participants linked their lived experiences to their empathy as school administrators. Additionally, all participants expressed that they felt supported with LGBTQ+ legal protections in the states where they work and live. Moreover, all participants expressed concerns about the anti-LGBTQ+ political climate that threatens to strip legal protections at the federal level. Future research can build on this study by examining the legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals across the United States. Specifically, focusing on how these protections differ by state and the influence of board of education policies regarding LGBTQ+ protections.

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