University of Montana Graduates Women Leaders Program
The inaugural class completed its one-year master's degree program at the university in December 2025.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Administration
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In December 2025, the University of Montana graduated the first class of its Women in Educational Leadership program. The one-year master's degree aims to prepare more women for superintendent roles across the state.
Why it matters
The program addresses a persistent gap between the high number of female teachers in Montana and the significantly lower percentage of women serving in top-level district superintendent positions.
The master's degree program consists of 37 credits and is completed over a one-year duration. Students attend the curriculum asynchronously through online forums and Zoom calls.
The players
University of Montana
This is a public research university located in Missoula, Montana, that provides a range of graduate and undergraduate degree programs.
Kendal Baldwin
She is an educational administrator who currently serves as the superintendent of the Arlee Joint School District.
Arlee Joint School District
This is a public school district in Montana that provides educational services to students in the local area.
The details
Facilitated by female Montana leaders with doctoral degrees, the program focuses on essential administrative skills such as school law, finance, and strategic planning. Graduates are qualified to pursue executive roles, exemplified by Kendal Baldwin, who secured a superintendent position following her studies.
Timeline
December 2025: The inaugural program class graduated.
July 2026: Kendal Baldwin completed additional licensing courses.
September 2026: Kendal Baldwin became superintendent of the Arlee Joint School District.
January 2027: The program begins its second cohort.
Culture Shift
This program aligns with the national trend of underrepresentation of women in K-12 superintendent roles by training future district leaders. It marks a departure from traditional administrative pathways by specifically targeting the demographic gap in executive leadership.
For aspiring educators in Montana, this program offers a direct path to acquiring the credentials required for district-level leadership. It simplifies the transition into executive roles for working professionals by utilizing a flexible, asynchronous online format.
The takeaway
Closing the gender gap in school administration requires specialized training that accounts for the unique constraints of working educators. Professionals looking to advance their careers may benefit from identifying programs that blend rigorous academic standards with flexible delivery models.
What happens next
The university is scheduled to welcome the second cohort of the Women in Educational Leadership program in January 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local educational initiatives in the Montana Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MATR.
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