Women extraordinaire: Female principals in the Guam Public School System balancing their professional and personal lives

The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the experiences of women in the principalship managing a work-life balance and to gain a better understanding of the relationship between their professional and personal lives. This study employed a qualitative approach using a collective case study of 10 female principals in the Guam Public School System (GPSS). Data were collected in two phases utilizing a demographic questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Work-life balance was uniquely defined by the principals based on their individual values and priorities. The findings in this study provide a better understanding of the management systems and coping strategies female administrators employ to help them succeed in the complex work environment of the principalship. Recommendations for further research include similar studies with male principals and female principals from other organizational leadership capacities in Guam and other islands in Micronesia to better understand the work-life challenges for both genders and the cultural impact on principals' quality of life.