In recognition of Women’s History Month, women leaders at PEL share reflections
PEL Staff & Associates (from left to right): Amber Ortiz, Bridget Nahabedian, Patrice Nelson, Tisha Markette, Kathryn Serino, Kerry Lord, Betty Feser, Kelly Lyman
Each March, Women’s History Month invites us to celebrate the impact of women leaders while also acknowledging the challenges they continue to navigate. In education, women make up the majority of the workforce yet remain underrepresented in top leadership roles. The path to leadership often includes balancing visible responsibility with invisible labor—mentoring colleagues, supporting school communities, and navigating expectations that can be both higher and less forgiving.
“Women in leadership are working against so many competing messages—the ‘you can have it all’ claim is so obviously elusive,” reflects Kerry Lord, Director of Programs at Partners for Educational Leadership. Drawing on the work of Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry and author of Rest Is Resistance, Lord notes that rest and self-care are not luxuries but necessities for women in leadership roles. “Resting and taking care of ourselves allows us to recover ourselves and innovate for a future that doesn’t exploit our compassion, creativity, wisdom, and livelihood.”
We asked several women associates at Partners for Educational Leadership to share their perspectives on leadership, growth, and the future of the field. Their reflections reveal both the challenges and the sense of purpose that continues to drive their work.
For many women, leadership begins with learning to lead authentically rather than conforming to traditional models. As Eileen Howley explains, “It is so critical for women to find their own authentic way of being a leader—to find their own true north, to be true to your principles and beliefs. It matters during the hardest decisions leaders will make, and the strongest women leaders hold firm to those principles and are able to thrive.”
While progress has been made, many women leaders still recall moments when bias shaped their professional journeys. Betty Feser remembers being a finalist for a high school principalship early in her career. “I was told I did not get the job because I was a woman. The experience called forth within me an even stronger belief that I was truly capable.” She later made it a priority to encourage other women to pursue leadership roles.
Mentorship and encouragement remain central to many women’s leadership philosophies. As Kelly Lyman says, “We know the important role support and encouragement play in developing leaders. As female leaders we have an obligation to work together to support other women—to open doors, nurture and advise them, and collaborate to ensure their success.”
Representation in educational leadership continues to grow, though slowly. As Betty Osga reflects, “Women are on a slow but steady course of increasing their numbers and impact on educational leadership. We often give just and due credit to trailblazing women who created paths to leadership positions, but we should also value forward-thinking men who welcome and support women as equal colleagues.”
Women leaders in education are not only sustaining the systems they inherited—they are helping reshape them. During Women’s History Month, their reflections remind us that the future of educational leadership is being built through authenticity, collaboration, and a commitment to lifting others along the way.
