‘Very strong leaders’
Anderson discusses the role women play in public education
EDITOR’S NOTE: This the second in a continuing series of articles on Women’s History Month.
March is Women’s History Month — a time when the accomplishments of women and their contributions to history are celebrated in communities not only across the country but around the globe.
For Cutter Morning Star Superintendent Nancy Anderson, that means serving in a role traditionally held by men.
Anderson said she believes women and men are naturally different from one another, that they were created differently, but were created as helpmates to one another.
“I believe that we are created to bring different gifts and different talents to support one another,” Anderson said.
She said her position is predominantly held by males, noting there are only around 40 female superintendents in Arkansas.
“When we look at things sometimes in a different perspective, it doesn’t mean that we’re weak or not capable, but women just are naturally gifted differently,” Anderson said. “Doesn’t mean that we’re less or more, doesn’t mean that men are less or more, we’re just different, and that was the way it was intended.”
Women are great leaders, and they have the skill sets to make them great, she said.
Two female superintendents that crossed Anderson’s mind, she said, were Stephanie Nehus, Hot Springs School District superintendent, and Melissa Spears, Jessieville School District superintendent.
“We have a lot of female superintendents, and they’re very strong leaders. We work together; we depend on each other,” Anderson said.
“We also depend on our male colleagues, and so we lead sometimes really differently. I think sometimes people think because we’re women, that we may be viewed as weak,” she said.
“I hate that sometimes that’s the perception that women are weak leaders, not good decision-makers, because I think that is 100% not accurate,” Anderson said. “I think women are very good decision-makers. I think we learn to take the data and the facts and analyze it and make fact-based decisions.”
Maybe women can’t decide what shoes they are going to wear that day, but they can certainly decide what curriculum they need to use, what they need to do, what’s best for their students, and what’s best for their kids and families, she said.
“Working with my male colleagues, they don’t treat us any differently than they treat their other male colleagues. I can’t say that has always been the case. But for me, I’ve always been respected or felt respected (by) my male colleagues, as well as my female colleagues,” she said.
Educators are predominantly female, but the leadership roles are predominantly filled by males, Anderson said.
“We have a lot of females that have started down that path, and they do a phenomenal job. I think our male counterparts recognize that; I think more of the issue comes with just the perception of (the) public,” Anderson said.
“I work with a lot of males, in the same role as me, and I believe that they respect me,” she said, “I respect them, and we work very well together.”
Anderson noted she has had many women in her life that have inspired her to do good, such as her grandmother, Amelia Earhart,
Margaret Thatcher, and multiple individuals in the education field.
“My grandmother was a beautiful lady, beautiful heart, and had a heart for everyone. She passed away actually last May, but she was my inspiration,” Anderson said.
“There’s just so many people that I’m so blessed and thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to cross paths with, and they’ve influenced me, and they’ve made me the person I am today,” she said.