2026 ACSA Women in School Leadership Forum

Female leaders in education often navigate complex leadership spaces shaped by visibility, representation, resilience, and responsibility. While educational leadership can be deeply rewarding, it can also entail isolation, heightened scrutiny, and pressure to continually prove competence. This interactive session explores how motivation, identity, and sense of belonging influence the leadership experiences of females in education.

Grounded in research and lived leadership experiences, this workshop will provide participants with opportunities to reflect on their leadership journeys, identify strategies to sustain resilience, and examine practices that cultivate belonging and equity within school communities. Participants will leave with practical tools to strengthen leadership identity, support wellness, and foster inclusive leadership spaces for themselves and others.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Examine how identity and representation shape leadership experiences in education.
2. Identify factors that impact motivation, resilience, and belonging among women leaders.
3. Reflect on personal and systemic barriers that influence leadership sustainability.
4. Apply practical strategies to cultivate resilience, wellness, and inclusive leadership environments