Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Educational administration; Educational leadership; Education'

The purpose of this qualitative, single case study is to examine the leadership traits of Elmer Towns and the strategies employed as co-founder of Liberty University. In order to accomplish this purpose, this study will assess the behavioral traits, work habits, communication patterns, and organizational concepts he employed as the Dean of the School of Religion at Liberty University. The “Portraits of Leadership” pattern is defined by viewing the university as a complex organization through which leadership behaviors and traits are manifested as a part of managing the governance structure, the internal operations, and the academic functions of the institution. The case study method is employed by the examination of the leader’s background, formal education, influence of mentors, and defining events.

The case study is individual in its focus and seeks to analyze the leadership behaviors of Towns in the context of the “Reframing Patterns” of higher education leadership of Lee Bolman and Joan Gallos. The data from the study is organized into the concepts of reframing and identifies four frames of academic leadership in which administrators of higher education often function. The data from documents, interviews, and observations are placed in four framing categories and serve as chapter headings in the research findings: Structure, Politics, Human Resource, and Symbols.

The research design for the case study uses three methods of research. The first method is document research. The study examines books and articles written by Towns in order to find leadership principles identified as essential to an organization. They also serve to identify situations and events related to the history and the function of the school. Documents related to the school and to the faculty are examined for communication and organizational factors. Faculty senate minutes, accreditation reports, catalogs, faculty handbooks, Liberty University policy documents and publications are included as data for triangulating research within the case study.

The second method of research includes interviews conducted with the dean, faculty and administration. Persons selected for the interviews worked at Liberty University for a significant part of Elmer Town’s tenure and served under him in various capacities. Three of the faculty members included in the study have written previous dissertations on Elmer Towns.

The third research approach included observations of Towns and his work with students and faculty. Observations were made while attending classes taught by Towns. Informal discussions with faculty and students also proved helpful in confirming and rejecting conclusions made during the five years. The researcher made observations from interactions with Towns in meetings, at church, and during appointments held in his office and at a local restaurant. The researcher also became a Liberty University Online adjunct professor during the time period in which the research was conducted. This allowed additional access to documents and to videos related to the leadership of Towns

Concluding findings of the case study categorize leadership traits and actions employed by Towns as Dean of the School of Religion. These traits and actions are applied within the context of higher education as a model for leaders and for deans serving in other institutions of higher learning.

The increase in teacher attrition rates within the state of California since 2000 is of concern to the California Department of Education and districts throughout the state because of a myriad of issues created by the loss of qualified teachers. The cost of replacing qualified teachers and recruiting and training new teachers to replace those who have left is a costly challenge. In California, 13% of new high school teachers leave the profession within the first two years of teaching and 22% leave within the first four years, even after successful completion of a teacher support program funded by the state (Reed, Reuben, & Barbour, 2006). Teacher attrition is a growing concern to both the state and the nation.

In this quantitative correlational study, one public high school within San Diego Unified School District served as a sample reviewed for data relating to teacher job satisfaction and elements of educational leadership that work to promote teacher retention. Data were analyzed to formulate a conclusion regarding job satisfaction and the set of predictor variables including the general quality of administrative leadership within a teacher’s educational environment, problem-solving conducted by the leadership in place, professional respect demonstrated for the educator by school leadership, professional development opportunities for teachers, and projected length of employment of the teacher.

A Bonferroni adjustment was performed on the original alpha level (α = .05) to reduce the likelihood of a type I error (false positive interpretation). Due to the application of the Bonferroni correction, the research study presented the finding that job satisfaction was not related teacher job satisfaction. Recommendations include the integration of relevant, focused professional development opportunities for teachers, with the ultimate goal in mind to retain dedicated, quality educators who seek to improve the lives of their students daily.

Principals have tremendous influence on the schools they lead (Bamburg & Andrews, 1990; Marzano et al., 2005). Certain leadership behaviors impact school level factors (Cotton, 2003; Hallinger & Heck, 2010; Leithwood, Begley, & Cousins, 1990; Marzano et al., 2005; Orr, 2003). To affect high levels of student achievement, school principals must be responsible for uniting diverse groups under shared purposes with purposeful emphasis on others rather than on self (Cotton, 2003; Hallinger & Heck, 2010; Leithwood, Begley, & Cousins, 1990; Marzano et al., 2005; Orr, 2003). Effective programs in educational leadership preparation include cohort-modeled groupings, among other features (Davis et al., 2005). Because cohorts are a feature of effective programs, yet few aspiring school leaders are prepared through cohort-based programs (Browne-Ferrigno & Muth, 2009), a concern regarding a problem of practice is raised.

The purpose of this study was to explore how aspirant school leaders experience the acquisition of leadership practices within their educational leadership preparation program and to contribute to the empirical understanding of how to best prepare school leaders for successful practice. This study was designed to examine: How do school leaders make meaning of their experience in a principal preparation program? In what ways do their experiences support the development of communitarian leadership?

The sample included nineteen school leaders who were alumni of a university-based educational leadership preparation program. Participants were interviewed using a basic interview protocol that followed the semi-structured approach for interview technique outlined by Moustakas (1994). The data analysis was carried out in the stepwise manner, using Atlas.ti 7.0 to code and group significant statements from the interview texts and using a basic memoing process to address any concerns of subjectivity.

Leaders who experienced preparation activities, including activities that gave them practice leading diverse individuals to shared outcomes articulated how preparation influenced the development of communitarian leadership skill, including relationship-building, communication, and values-identification. Communitarian leadership, which includes leadership actions linked to improved school-level outcomes (Marzano et al., 2005), may have utility as a framework for developing aspiring principals through formal preparation programs.

The students in Title I schools remain the most vulnerable in our education system. Principals in these schools must be exceptional and well prepared. However, principals have been trained in a universal approach that is not sufficient for those who lead schools with high poverty rates as well as culturally and linguistically diverse learners. The purpose of this mixed-methods descriptive study was to gain insight from principals about instructional leadership in Title I schools. Thirty-two principals described their perceptions about the preparation, supports, and challenges necessary to develop instructional leadership, including cultural proficiency for Title I schools. The findings in this study highlight the complexity of the principal role with a specific focus on Title I schools. While principals reported positive experiences as well as support from their leadership preparation programs and school districts, neither was sufficient to fully prepare them to be instructional leaders in Title I schools. Recommendations include a comprehensive, cohesive district coaching and mentoring program that considers elements necessary to build well-prepared and exceptional leaders for Title I schools.

There is an absence of research examining the relationship between the experiences that occurred while holding formal student leadership positions and leadership identity development. This study will investigate if leadership can be learned through the lenses of the leadership experience of men who hold the formal student leadership position of chapter president within their local chapters of their national social fraternal organization. The design of the study is quantitative in nature and will utilize an electronic survey to examine the impact of a college student’s leadership identity development from holding a position of leadership within a student organization.

Texas Education Agency (TEA) introduced Texas Principal Evaluation and Support System (T-PESS) for the 2016-2017 year. The evaluation system identifies five standards that serve as a guide to campus principals for improving school productivity, increasing student achievements, and continually improving effectiveness as a leader. In an effort to support principals with T-PESS standards, some districts have implemented leadership development plans. Leadership development plans provide a framework for principals to measure their leadership competencies, acquire peer feedback, and develop an action plan focused on effective leadership practices. Standard 4 of T-PESS measures effective culture-leader practices of principals. The current study reviewed principal leadership development plans and the perceived impact on school culture. According to T-PESS standards, effective culture leaders establish a shared campus vision, high expectations, family and community engagement, school safety, and student discipline. In the current qualitative study, eight campus principals who have utilized leadership development plans for two consecutive years and the eight assistant principals who serve under these principals were interviewed. The researcher used NVivo 11 Pro to analyze the qualitative data from the interviews. The researcher analyzed and coded the data as patterns emerged in perceptions of leadership development plans and the impact on school culture. Themes emerged which aligned with T-PESS Standard 4 culture-leader indicators. Furthermore, the data indicated that the participants considered leadership development plans to be a useful guide for campus principals in developing effective practices as culture-leaders.

The job of an education system-level leader in urban environments is becoming more demanding, and the environment in which they operate more complex. Filling these very critical roles with individuals who possess the right characteristics could mean the difference between success and failure at improving the educational outcomes of students who are more often than not students of color and economically disadvantaged students.

Through seven interviews, this qualitative study focused on understanding the leadership dispositions that contributed to the success of transformative urban education system-level leaders in Los Angeles. The new transformative urban education leadership framework was developed using elements from each of the following existing frameworks: leadership for multicultural education, transformative leadership, and leadership for social justice. Findings from the data revealed four themes and two subthemes that described the characteristics that these transformative education leaders in urban Los Angeles had in common. The four themes were early experiences that impacted future trajectory, power of positive communication, forming deep relationships with the community, collaborative decision-making and teambuilder; the subthemes were communicating beliefs and vision, communicating hope, and communicating courage. These themes and subthemes suggest some positive alignment to the new transformative urban education leadership framework.

Los Angeles education organizations could develop their own pipeline of top-level leaders who are prepared to assume positions when the opportunities present themselves, elevate the role of community-based organizations (and community), and be more targeted in their recruitment and professional development strategies for existing transformative leaders.

Leadership is important to the effective functioning of organizations. In education, what leaders do influences pedagogy and student learning. While knowledge on transformational leadership (TL) has been developed from transnational studies, what leaders actually do may not be the same in Ghana due to influences of contextual factors. The specific problem is the lack of knowledge on the TL practices and the factors that influence the leadership practices of the college of education (CoE) principal in Ghana. The purpose of this case study was to identify the nature of the TL practices of Ghana’s CoEs principals, the perceived factors that influence their leadership practices, and how the principals define successful CoE leadership. The study participants comprised eight principals, five vice principals, and three assessment officers. The researcher gathered qualitative data for the study using a semi-structured interview protocol in face-to-face interview sessions. Each interview session was electronically recorded for accurate record keeping and ease of transcription. Following transcription, member checking allowed participants to review and certify the accuracy of the data. Data analysis involved the identification of convergent and divergent points grouped under themes and presented as the study results. The results revealed that Ghana’s CoEs principals engaged in leadership actions under each of Kouzes and Posner’s exemplary leadership practices. Primarily, the principals model the way by focusing on getting the job done; inspire a shared vision through meetings and discussions with stakeholders; challenge the process by outlining work schedules and assigning employees roles to perform; enable others through staff development initiatives; and encourage the heart of others by recognizing and rewarding efforts as well as addressing staff welfare and professional development needs. Also, the results show that two major factors that influence the principals’ leadership practices are their personal characteristics and work contexts. To the participating principals, the number one indicator of successful CoE leadership is the active involvement of stakeholders in decision making processes and college activities. Future research must focus on the extent to which the principals apply TL and the exploration of effective leadership competencies for developing Ghana’s CoEs as the institutions become full-fledged tertiary institutions.

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to ascertain the perceptions of a principal regarding leadership insights into the ability to lead effectively in urban and multicultural education settings. The researcher determined that the potential existed for this participant, who was actively working to address issues brought on by diversity, to serve as a role model for culturally-responsive teaching through a case study. The increasing diversity among prekindergarten to Grade 12 students requires a more adequately trained, culturally aware faculty and staff. This case study used the theoretical lenses of the critical race theory, the model of Black identity development, and White identity development to examine the experiences of diverse cultures upon academic social structures. Four main research questions guided this study to determine the principal’s ability to lead in a multicultural urban setting effectively: (a) what are the principal’s perceptions about cultural awareness and his/her responsibility for serving increasingly diverse students, staff, and communities; (b) in what ways does a principal’s perceptions of his/her capacity to lead effectively and demonstrate cultural awareness in an urban school with increasingly diverse students, staff, and communities evolve in practice over time; (c) what are the principal’s perceptions of their past effectiveness to lead in a culturally responsive manner while serving increasingly diverse students, staff, and communities; and (d) what are the principal’s perceptions of their preparedness to lead in a culturally responsive and culturally competent manner while serving increasingly diverse students, staff, and communities. School principals play a critical role in improving schools. This in-depth study interviewed a principal that had demonstrated 3 years of effective multicultural leadership experience over a diverse ethnic and gender population of students within the public urban school system.

English learners (EL) account for approximately 10 percent of American public school students and a quarter of all public school students in the state of California. This student group, while already a sizable minority, is also the fastest growing group of students across the state and nation. Therefore, ways that public school systems meet, or fail to meet, the educational needs of EL students will have an increasingly significant impact on outcomes for public school students generally. However, English learners have traditionally experienced public education in very different ways from native English speaking students, ways that frequently restrict access to educational opportunities and further systemic forms of advantage for some student groups and disadvantage for others.

The purpose of this research was to better understand the relationship between the philosophies, beliefs, and practices of educational leaders, and the experiences of English learners. A conceptual framework was developed that combined the theories of Applied Critical Leadership and Moral Leadership. This framework guided the development of an interview instrument to collect qualitative data in the form of participant beliefs and practices. These qualitative data were then compared to quantitative institutional data representing EL student placement in both higher-track and lower-track educational pathways in order to understand whether a relationship between the two sets of data existed. The sample included 11 participants who were educational leaders who worked directly with EL students. Quantitative data represented course placement data for approximately 8,000 students across three high school campuses within the same district.

Findings from this research indicated that the beliefs and practices of educational leaders were consistent between schools serving demographically different communities, and that levels of equity or inequity, for English learners remained consistent on these disparate campuses. Furthermore, while all three schools had made recent progress in moving toward more equitable representation of EL students in various educational pathways, this progress may have been hindered by the lack of two leadership components, 1) the ability of educational leaders to engage site staff in critical conversations regarding race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and language proficiency, and 2) the ability of educational leaders to extend collaborative decision-making processes beyond certificated staff members in order to include the diverse perspectives of classified staff, students, parents, and community members.

Based on the findings, recommendations are made for the establishment of systemic opportunities for educational leaders to employ specific leadership practices that may achieve greater levels of equity for traditionally underserved student groups, including English learners.

The purpose of this mixed methods research study was to examine how educators lead with passion. The study identified key characteristics in school administrators and teachers who lead effective schools. This research study analyzed whether there were any significant differences in the leadership styles of administrators and teachers. Five research questions served to guide the investigation of leadership characteristics: (1) Is there a difference between the average reported scores for each of the three frequently used leadership styles? (2) Is there a difference between the administrators and the teachers on the three leadership styles? (3) Is there a significant difference between the schools on each of the three measures of leadership styles? (4) Which leadership characteristics do administrators and teachers perceive to have the most influence on creating successful schools? (5) Does the use of empowerment leadership theories such as transformational, servant, visionary, cultural, moral/ethical, and invitational affect the Academic Performance Index (API) scores at elementary magnet schools?

Fifty-two administrators and teachers from three elementary magnet schools participated in the study employing a customized version of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and semistructured interview questions. There was a significant difference in the preference of leadership style by the participants. Research participants preferred the transformational leadership style. There was no significant difference in the perceptions by the administrators and the teachers in the responses to the leadership styles at the three elementary schools.

The purpose of this qualitative multi-site case study was to explore the impact of principals’ leadership styles on student academic achievement in a high-poverty low-performing school district in Louisiana. A total of 17 participants, principals and teachers, from this school district were used in this study. Data source triangulation of interviews, questionnaires, and archival data were used for the analysis. The central research question that guided this study was: What is the perceived impact, if at all, that the leadership style of a principal in a high-poverty low-performing school district in Louisiana has on a school performance score in those same schools? Four main themes, some of which included additional subthemes, emerged from the study. These included: (a) Theme 1: principal leadership, with subthemes: passive behavior, motivation, and collaboration; (b) Theme 2: leadership implication on student achievement, with subthemes: dual leadership, teacher shortages and quality, and disruptive student behavior; (c) Theme 3: professional development; and; (d) Theme 4: initiatives to improve student achievement. The findings of this multi-site case study offered insight into factors other than principal leadership styles, which influences student academic achievement. This study provides recommendations for further research to be conducted in high-poverty low-performing schools in Louisiana targeted in the areas of teacher shortages, collaboration, dual leadership, passive behavior and teacher quality.

As school enrollments across the United States include increasing numbers of students of color, the number of administrators of color remains disproportionate. In California school districts, where a large percentage of students are Latino and Latina, Latino and Latina principals remain rare. While studies have suggested why Latinos and Latinas do not enter educational leadership, fewer have examined why they do elect to enter the field. This ethnographic exploratory study examines factors that led Latino and Latina educators to enter administrative leadership preparation programs with the goal of becoming school principals. The sample includes interviews with seven Latino and Latina elementary school principals from a large urban school district in California. The study uses Freire’s concepts of banking, conscientization, and praxis as a lens to synthesize the findings. The investigation provides insight regarding how school districts and colleges of education can consider targeted recruitment of Latino and Latina leaders to increase the candidate pool for educational leadership and close the disproportionate ethnic gap between who attends California public schools and who leads them. The research proposes a possible working model for the development, recruitment and growth of the leadership pipeline in California schools. Lastly, this study is a call to action for Latinos and Latinas to consider becoming active participants in the narrative that defines them in the educational landscape of the United States. Issues of race, gender, socio-economic status, language, politics, and immigration are discussed as factors that contribute to the development of Latinos and Latinas in school leadership.

There have been many recent changes in education focused on closing the achievement gap, yet minority students continue to fall behind. Latina/o students encounter systemic oppression in schools and society in the forms of academic tracking, classism, racism, and other biases (Bemak & Chung, 2011; Dickson, Zamora, Gonzalez, Chun, & Callaghan Leon, 2011; Hipolito-Delgado & Lee, 2007; Holcomb-McCoy, 2007; Martinez, 2003; Ortiz & Gonzales, 2000). At the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels, Latina/os attend schools whose educational conditions are some of the most inadequate in the United States (Oakes, 1984; Valencia, 1991). One of the most significant school reforms at the high school level is converting comprehensive high schools into small schools or small learning communities. This school structure could be beneficial in addressing some of the academic issues of minority students but also offer some cautions.

The problem under investigation in this study is the achievement gap of Latina/os students in gaining college access in comparison to their white peers (Education Trust, 2010). While small schools were created to close this achievement gap, there are still some concerns in regards to college access of these students. The purpose of this study was to explore Latina/os college students’ experiences from the same small high school on how the school helped or hindered their college access. It also explores how these students used their community cultural wealth factors in order to overcome challenges and be successful. Led by a narrative inquiry interview qualitative methodology, data was collected via 10 semi-structured interviews of college students who met the necessary criteria for this study.

Findings from this study suggested that the family feeling these students cited of being in the small school, was a factor that contributed to their academic success. The college awareness resources that were available to them with constant reminders from a college counselor also contributed to their success. Through a critical race theory lens, (Solórzano, 2001) this study also revealed institutional oppression occurred through the school’s lack of quality Advanced Placement courses, lack of diversity, and insufficient funding for extra-curricular or school activities that hindered their acceptance to prestigious universities. Further, participants expressed that they overcame these challenges using Yosso’s (2005) six community culture wealth factors.

Recommendations for this study include key curricular strategies to ensure students experiential knowledge is considered in creating the school’s curriculum. Secondly, the importance of having a robust curriculum, and the role of creating funding to offer extra-curricular and school activities will make a huge impact on Latina/os’ college access.

The placement of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in school leadership roles emerged as a feature of comprehensive reform models and school improvement initiatives. Educational practitioners must verify the saliency of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) process in preparing NBCTs for school leadership, particularly how NBCTs demonstrate leadership behavior in the principalship role. These prompts inspired the central research questions of this study. How did an NBCT demonstrate leadership behavior in the principalship? What perceived role (if any) did the NBPTS process play in developing those leadership behaviors? I designed this single-case study to examine the leadership behaviors of one NBCT who ascended to the principalship.

Therefore, I investigated the influence of the NBPTS process to determine its role in developing the participant’s leadership behaviors. In my initial analysis, I applied Pitner’s (1988) conceptual path models to describe, categorize, and analyze, the leadership behaviors of the NBCT participant. These models depicted leadership behaviors as direct, mediated, reciprocal, and antecedent (DMRA). In my second analysis of the data, I pursued a thematic approach. I analyzed the data for code words and phrases that ultimately signaled the emergence of four major themes: setting the vision and mission, school and community relationships, religion, spirituality, and faith, and the 5 core propositions approach to school leadership. The four themes were instrumental in answering the central research questions of the study.

I used multiple interviews, observations, a survey, and documents to collect data. The resulting wide range of data captured a detailed picture of the participant, the school’s operations, and provided an indication of the extent to which survey respondents corroborated the participants’ perceptions. Findings indicated that the NBCT participant used each DMRA leadership approach; however those behaviors were subordinate to the five core propositions of the NBPTS. I concluded that the NBPTS process was vital to development of the participant’s knowledge relative to curricula, instruction, assessment, and reflection; all were important components of the participant’s school leadership behaviors. The findings represent a step toward confirming the unintended effect of the NBPTS process in preparing the participant for the principalship.

Much literature has been written about the history and induction of local school councils in the State of Illinois. Chicago's Local School Councils (LSCs) were created based on the Chicago School Reform Act of 1988. These LSCs were given power in Principal Selection and Evaluation, School Improvement Planning, and School-Based Budgeting (Moore & Merritt, 2002 p.11). State law currently requires 18 hours of training for newly elected members, but critics contend the large-scale lecture format does not properly prepare panelists (Gewertz, 2002). While some researchers agree that LSCs have made strides in improving schools, others have indicated that there are many troubles that hinder the effectiveness of LSCs such as the lack of skills, commitment, and support (PURE, 2006). Larger citizen participation in school councils can create its own problems. Many future LSC members may not be adequately prepared to assume a leadership role (Cunningham, 2003).

The purpose of this quantitative study is to determine what knowledge LSC members currently possess in order to be effective leaders within the school system. Data was collected from various schools within the Woodlawn community in Chicago, Illinois, to analyze the perceptions of parent and community stakeholders regarding LSC training. A quantitative Needs Assessment survey was designed to assess the participants’ perceptions. An overall analysis of the data indicated that the survey participants were dissatisfied with LSC training. LSC members believed that the mandatory LSC training modules did not prepare them to address issues relevant to their school. Generalized LSC member training programs have been criticized for failing to address the unique issues and scenarios in which LSC members often find themselves (Grendon, 2010). Perceptions of LSC members and community stakeholders are vital in determining what factors are hindering the success of schools in the Chicago Public School (CPS) system. Based on a needs assessment of LSC members, recommendations are developed to assist in determining further training for LSC members to ensure they have the knowledge and skills required for effective decision making within their schools. Also discussed are areas for further research as it relates to LSC training.

Teacher turnover is a systemic problem that negatively impacts student success and contributes to the achievement gaps in hard-to-staff schools. Also, in the United States, teacher attrition is a financial burden that diminishes educational resources. The purpose of this study is to explore three models to provide an in-depth understanding of the precise leadership practices that enhance the commitment and retention of teachers. The research grounded in the Path-goal theory utilized a comparative case study method to explore the teacher attrition phenomenon. The following three research questions guided the investigation of three purposefully selected cases to provide a thorough explanation of the problem: (1) What is the relationship between leadership behavior and retention? (2) What is the relationship between leadership behavior and teacher commitment? (3) What are the specific leadership behaviors that promote teacher commitment and retention? Holistic coding and a cross-case analysis revealed that leadership directly influenced teachers’ commitment, and teachers’ commitment had a significant impact on retention. Specifically, supportive leadership practices with a focus on emotional support positively affected teachers' commitment and retention. An aggregation of the identified codes prompted the formation of seven themes for supportive leadership practices that contribute to teacher commitment and retention. The thematic descriptions led to the theoretical composition of seven specific situational leadership practices that positively supported teacher retention.

This study investigates the impact, both proximal and distal, of inter-scholastic sports participation on the academic experiences of Latino male high school students. I utilize the notion of imbrication and a nested ecological framework to interrogate these larger constructs to illuminate differences and commonalities that exist amongst and between Latinos, the type of sport played, and three forms of engagement (cognitive, behavioral, and emotional).

“Do sports impede mobility or do sports enhance mobility?” is a fundamental question in education and interscholastic athletics research. Using the ELS:2002 survey data from 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2012, I conducted a series of statistical analyses to explore the following relationships: 1. between specific U.S. Latino population demographics to sports participation, and academic engagement/achievement/attainment; 2. between participation in high school sport, generally, and academic engagement; 3. between the type of sport played on academic engagement; 4. to test if academic engagement is a mediator between continued sports participation and educational achievement/attainment.

The regression results consistently show that those who participate in athletic activities have higher grades and greater rates of high school/college degree attainment. The relationship between sports participation and academic engagement was either neutral or negative, particularly as it pertained to behavioral engagement. The outcomes imply that institutional practices created to boost athletic participation are unlikely to produce positive effects on engagement unless there are intentional efforts by school officials to create athletic environments that are conducive to academic endeavors.

In large school districts, principal supervisors oversee groups of principals. Principal supervisors commonly have titles such as Area or Regional Superintendents, Leadership Directors or Network Leaders. They are situated in the organizational hierarchy between top district leaders (Chief-level positions) and principals, and serve as the link between these two groups. To reflect recent changes in the responsibilities of principals from a focus on school management to a focus on instruction, many school districts have re-conceptualized the role of principal supervisors based on the premise that having principal supervisors provide support to principals about issues that directly relate to teaching and learning is necessary in order to raise school performance. Using qualitative methods, this research study analyzed the role of principal supervisors as middle managers who are expected to develop the instructional capacity of the principals they supervise by examining how the organizational conditions of school districts and the practices of top district leaders and principals influence principal supervisors’ work. Since there is minimal scholarship in the field of education, the conceptual framework of the study draws on theoretical perspectives about middle managers and strategy implementation from the fields of business and organizational behavior—Argyris & Schon’s (1974) theories of action and Guth & MacMillan’s (1986) middle management expectancy theory.

Through written questionnaires and interviews with top district leaders, principal supervisors and principals in a large, urban school district, this research found that principal supervisors do not spend the majority of their time focusing on developing the instructional capacity of the principals they supervise. Rather, as a result of principal supervisors’ positioning in the district’s organizational hierarchy, the organizational conditions and practices of top district leaders and principals, and principal supervisors’ views about their intended job functions, principal supervisors often serve as “brokers”—intermediaries between central office staff members and principals. Honig & Copland (2008) set forth the conceptualization of principal supervisors as “brokers,” and the findings from this study confirm their findings. However, the results of this study extend their research by offering numerous additional ways in which principal supervisors’ brokering serves central office staff members and principals. As a contribution to the existing scholarship about principal supervisors, I further distill Honig & Copland’s (2008) denotation of principal supervisors as brokers by dividing principal supervisors’ broader brokering functions into three more refined categories of buffering, bolstering and bridging, and providing evidence to support these distinctions. I contend that most of these brokering activities are consistent with the district goal of having principal supervisors support principals’ instructional leadership.

The findings from this study have a variety of implications for school districts, including the need for districts to either further refine the role of principal supervisors based on the realities of principal supervisors’ daily work, or to address district organizational conditions and practices in a way that allows principal supervisors to serve their intended instructional role.

We are experiencing powerful and exponential shifts in our economy (Schwab, 2015), marked by rapid advancements in automation, information technology, and robotics (Ford, 2016) and the displacement of millions of Americans in the middle class (Goldin & Katz, 2008; Keeley, 2015; Pew Research Center, 2015). Our current education paradigm is “no longer effective” (Zhao, 2016) to prepare students/graduates for a dynamic, volatile, and ambiguous future. These economic shifts have profound social and political impacts. In order for schools to retool and transform, trust creation will become increasingly important to school improvement efforts. The purpose of this study was to understand how teachers perceive trustworthy principal behaviors and what school practices promote trust between teachers and principals and among the teaching faculty. Using primarily a phenomenological methodology, this study examined trust-rich environments in two schools in Southern California. Two questions guided this study: What principal behaviors do teachers perceive as being trustworthy? What sorts of school practices are used to build trust among the adults in school? Teachers in this study were willing to be vulnerable with each other, to experiment with new practices, to initiate change efforts, and to engage in public problem-solving and collective decision-making. The findings suggested that teachers perceived the following three principal behaviors and school practices as important elements in creating trust: (a) Exercising Empathy and Openness, (b) Relating to Teachers as Whole People, and (c) Creating Practices of Voice and Choice. The findings suggest that we may need less industrial-style school leaders and more school leaders who are deeply empathic and skilled facilitators in leveraging the individual and collective strengths, interests, and values of their people.

A single case design was employed to explore the implementation of the new teacher induction and mentoring program (NTIMP) from the perspective of new teachers who participated in the program. The district the researcher studied for this single case study had been experiencing a high teacher turnover. To reduce this problem, an NTIMP was implemented in the district. The NTIMP was investigated with a diverse sample of new educators from a semi-rural school district in the western part of the United States. Data sources, including interviews, surveys, and document review, were used in the study to allow for the triangulation of data. Findings indicated that the NTIMP was a beneficial initiative implemented by the study site for helping teachers adjust to the teaching and for reducing feelings of isolation. Responses regarding the NTIMP’s impact on a new teacher’s development of a positive attitude towards teaching and in developing a sense of professionalism indicated both positive and negative experiences. The responses to the survey questions and the semi-structured interviews reflected the importance of access to professional development and both formal and informal mentoring access for new teachers to help them achieve success in teaching. A support system is critical to new teachers who were grappling with seeking answers to questions and gathering assistance to become a more effective educator. New teachers require experienced teacher support through the development of professional relationships, relationships with students and students’ families and caregivers, and additional guidance in professional practice. Future studies should include the long-term impact of the program on participants.

The educational path of an English-language learner in California is affected by federal, state, and local educational policy, mandates, and practices. According to the research, after 40 or so years of government intervention from the Bilingual Act of 1974 to Proposition 38 of 2016, school districts continue to have large numbers of English-language learners. School districts also produce Long Term English Learners as high school graduates who not only face deficiencies in language acquisition in both primary and secondary languages, but are also academically unprepared for the real world.

This study was conducted to determine intrinsic family and school academic influences of English-language learners who have graduated in one California comprehensive high school in Northern California. The researcher, a former English-language learner (ELL), shared his story of growing up as a product of bilingual public education during the seventies and eighties to a selected number of graduating English-language learner recent high school graduates. A survey of 21 questions regarding the influences of English-language learners was given to 17 participants. The participants were interviewed in a focus group format and then documented their own stories as English-language learners. The results indicate several common themes that K-12 education is in need of addressing to ensure academic success of English-language learners. These themes include: English Language Learners having a wealth of knowledge, culture, language, experiences, and unique voices that educators can “hook” the student into short and long term high school education. In addition, educators need to understand how to teach the ELL’s invaluable mind, which will require some creativity on the part of educators in addition to teaching the preexisting curriculum. However, challenging this approach may be, it will undoubtedly maximize student interest, learning, and language acquisition.

As a society, America has struggled to resolve some deep-seated differences over values. These differences are most visible and divisive in the historical White-Black dichotomy. In the realm of education, the Black male achievement gap is a vivid reminder of this previously legalized oppressor-oppressed relationship.

The Black male achievement gap is a particularly unique phenomenon in that Black male students surpass every other racial and gender category in educational achievement gaps (NCES, 2013a, 2013b, 2014a, 2014b; NAEP, 2011, 2013). This phenomenon is well-known and well researched. Many researchers point to a fundamental conflict over values that results in this lingering gap between Black male students and their peers. Though these value differences have been researched, how these differences are being reconciled in efforts to close Black male achievement gaps is not known.

Argyris and Schön’s (1978, 1989b) theoretical framework provides a practical way to engage the values of the school organization. This perspective allows social scientists to understand whether or not the values guiding the actions of the organization are enabling the organization to effectively meet its stated goals. This research study analyzes a school’s process of responding to the Black male achievement gap, focusing on the school leader’s efforts to close these gaps. The theory of action framework allows the school leader’s efforts to be mapped, distinguishing between espoused and in-use theories of action and understanding if and how the in-use theories are reconciling value differences within the school organization.

Reforms and changes in the public school system across the United States have affected all aspects of public school learning, governance, and the leadership roles of principals. This investigative, qualitative case study explored the educational reforms under Children First, a wide scale reform that re-ordered and re-designed the New York City public school system from 2002 to 2014, and its effects on the leadership roles of principals. Furthermore, it examined the New York City Public School System under this innovative mayoral reform. This qualitative study used interviews, observations, and survey methods of inquiry to examine how three veteran New York City principals perceived their leadership roles and their skills; and how they maintained their leadership roles during Children First. Through Bolman and Deal’s (1991) four frames model, this research explored the number of frames that the participants exhibited while conducting their executive daily practices. The findings of the study highlighted the theory of the four frames model, in the context of NYC principals’ changing roles. The investigation examined the lens that veteran principals used to re-organize, re-adjust, and realign their approaches to educational leadership during Children First. One significant finding of this research was that principals were empowered as a result of Children First.

A mixed method study with a statewide sampling of both superintendents (N = 258) and school board members (N = 543) within the State of Illinois designed to identify the perceptions of the ideal superintendent candidate. Using the study defined professional standard sub-components of the superintendency developed from the American Association of School Administrators Professional Standards for the Superintendency (Hoyle, Bjork, Collier, & Glass, 2005), a quantitative survey was develop and distributed to each superintendent and school board member within the State of Illinois. The following analysis provides a ranking of standard sub-components for each group, along with perception data comparing population characteristics including gender, tenure, type of district and size of district. Continuing from the quantitative analysis, four participants representing an even distribution of superintendents, school board members and gender were selected and interviewed. This qualitative stage of the study was conducted using semi-structured and open ended questioning to delve deeper into the quantitative findings.

This study brings affirmation of the importance of the identified professional standard sub-components while expanding on the perceptions of the role of superintendent through the lived experience of people within and overseeing this critical educational leadership position. The quantitative analysis found that of the twenty-two standard sub-components included within the study, Leadership Qualities (Ethics & Values) was consistently found across both populations as ranking the highest. This was similarly found for the standard sub-component of Strong Communication Skills which was ranked second for both populations. The sub-component of Community / Public Relations Skills was found to be ranked in the top five most highly ranked sub-components for both populations. The qualitative analysis provides a categorical breakdown of each of the twenty identified themes relating to superintendency within three key indicator groupings including Situational, Personal Traits and Skills/Abilities.

Incongruency was identified between the quantitative and qualitative analyses of this study in a single area. Across the quantitative analysis, a total of 19 of the 22 sub-components were found to hold a statistically significant difference between male and female responses. This was in direct contrast to the consistent opinion held by each of the interview participants that gender held no impact on perceptions of the ideal superintendent candidate.

American politicians, policy makers, and educators continue to grapple with ways to improve the academic achievement for all student groups. In spite of recent reform efforts such as the No Child Left Behind Act, evidence suggests that America has yet to adopt changes that not only improve achievement for all student groups but also reduce the high school dropout rate for its highest-risk students. Empirical research suggests that when students participate in the particular extra-curricular offerings of athletics and (on a more individual basis) fine arts, they have greater chances of staying in school and not dropping out. Yet this area of the school curriculum is often elusive for students who have background characteristics that put them at greater risk for school failure. The phenomenon under study is the experience of at-risk student participants in athletics and fine arts, and this inquiry sought to discover what it is about these offerings that may contribute to decreases in school failure. Data collection took place through one-on-one interviews and focus groups with 12 high-risk students who met predetermined selection criteria of being at-risk, participating in athletics and/or fine arts, being on a trajectory toward success in conventional terms, and being willing to talk about these experiences in an interview and focus group. Participants indicated that supportive social connections played a critical role in their initial and/or their ongoing participation. Findings revealed that students’ participation in both athletics and fine arts cultivated and nourished the affective domain of learning by appealing to their interests, passions, and hopes. For participants, both athletics and fine arts appeared to play a significant role in their lives, to the point of being life changing. There were many attributions associated with participation, and included such things as improvement in academic achievement, staying in school and not dropping out, as a result of their participation in both athletics and fine arts. These and other findings identified in this study should provide guidance to politicians, policy makers, educational reformers, educators, communities, families, and students themselves about the value of participation in these specific school offerings. Thus, findings implied that schools should encourage greater pupil participation in the full curriculum and not decrease support to these specific offerings, which could be increasingly vulnerable to cuts during fiscal challenges because athletics and fine arts may often be thought of as a privilege for a select few or an unnecessary part of the school curriculum.

The retention of quality school leaders is critical to school success and improvement (Fuller, Orr, & Young, 2008; National Association of Elementary and Secondary Principals, 2013; School Leaders Network, 2015). It is unlikely that student achievement will improve in schools with rapid turnover of school principals (Mascall & Leithwood, 2010). Research contends that fifty percent of new principals will quit within three years of being hired and those that do stay often leave high poverty schools for less demanding leadership roles (Fuller et al., 2008; School Leaders Network, 2015). School change is more successfully implemented when a principal remains in the position for a minimum of three to five years (Fuller, Young, & Baker, 2007). Understanding what factors lead to principal job retention may provide insight to minimize principal turnover and increase student achievement.

The purpose of this explanatory, sequential, mixed methods study was to investigate the factors that lead to principal job retention in traditional public elementary and secondary schools in a small northeast state.

This study addressed the following research questions: 1. What factors do principals rate as important for job retention in their current position? 2. What is the relationship between principal identified factors related to job retention and the following demographic variables: gender, school urbanicity, school level, school enrollment, socio-economic status, priority school status, overall happiness in their current job, and principal tenure status? 3. How do principals describe the factors that influence their job retention?

During the quantitative phase, a questionnaire was administered to elementary and secondary principals (N=270) to measure perceptions of the factors that contribute to their decisions to persist in their current positions. During the qualitative phase, interviews (n=6) were conducted to explore how principals describe the factors that contribute to job retention. Significant findings were found related to school level, priority school status, overall happiness, and principal tenure. Six prominent themes emerged from the qualitative data.

Results from this study may benefit school superintendents and other educational leaders to help them better identify the conditions necessary to retain school leadership that may lead to student academic success and decrease principal turnover.

Instructional leadership for school leaders is a complex, multifaceted task. Central office leaders can and must support the instructional leadership of school leaders. Yet the central office can sometimes present roadblocks that make it challenging for principals to be effective instructional leaders. Complicating matters is the impact of context, which can influence the ways that the central office supports or hinders the instructional leadership of school administrators.

This exploratory study examined the ways that the central office supported or hindered the instructional leadership of school administrators. It also examined the way that school district size, type and access to resources may have impacted those interactions. Participants included central office staff involved in teaching and learning as well as school principals and assistant principals in six public school districts in Pennsylvania. A qualitative design was employed. Fifty-one participants were interviewed and asked to provide documents related to curriculum, instruction, professional development, and/or assessment.

Central office administrators played a role in managing curriculum, assessment, professional development, and expectations in school districts. Supportive practices included fostering connections between and among school administrators, skill-building/mentoring, and shielding school administrators from community issues and state mandates. Practices that created roadblocks included lack of expertise and quality work products, failure to bring school administrators together around collaborative work, lack of trusting relationships, and failure to shield school administrators from community issues and state mandates. Tension around the balance between school autonomy and coherence to district mandates/needs, the process of change, feedback and accountability, and philosophical differences created additional roadblocks. Context was a relevant factor in the areas of trust and relationships, the amount of autonomy granted to school administrators, and the role of resources.

Four main conclusions were drawn. In the districts studied, there was little work on the part of central office around instructional strategies. The central office played a more direct role as instructional leaders in schools housed in smaller districts. When the central office engaged in supportive practices, fewer tensions were reported by participants within districts. Finally, the central office provided the “glue” that held schools together within a district.

Teacher leaders have been acknowledged for playing a significant role in supporting student learning. The impact of these key individuals often centers upon influencing the professional work of colleagues and having the capacity to make important leadership decisions that shape aspects of the school beyond their classrooms.

Currently, the body of research on teacher leadership in international schools is limited. The purpose of the study was to contribute to the body of knowledge related to teacher leadership in the context of international schools and is motivated by the following three research questions: (1) What types of teacher leadership roles (formal and informal) exist in international schools? (2) What are the most important attributes for teacher leaders? (3) What programs and/or activities do teacher leaders identify as valuable in developing the attributes of a successful teacher leader?

All Principals and Teacher Leaders (formal and informal) served as the accessible population for the study. Principals and Teacher Leaders completed surveys in accordance with their roles in order to gather data for the study.

The significance of the study was based upon the practical implications of possible findings. With a broader understanding of how teacher leadership is being enacted, the most important attributes of teacher leaders, and how teacher leaders are developed, international school leaders was able to use the findings for strategic efforts to support teacher leadership. Knowledge of the most important attributes may help with developing criteria for selection and evaluation of teacher leaders, while an understanding of how teacher leaders are developed may provide insight into the type of professional development or experiences necessary to cultivate this category of leaders.

The purpose of this study was to investigate principal turnover to determine the perceived reasons why principals leave their positions, or why they stay. My study addressed the experiences of those individuals, telling their stories of why they leave their assigned schools, including their needs and stressors, or describing their external supports they perceive causing them to stay. The qualitative study borrowed elements of a narrative study through the interview process. Nine current or former administrators, in two Piedmont North Carolina school districts, were selected for interviews, lasting approximately 90 minutes to two hours in length. All interviews were conducted at the convenience of the school employee in relation to time and location. The participants represented a cross section of experience, levels of schooling, gender and ethnicity.

The significance of their experiences as it relates to principal retention and turnover were examined. The major stressors identified were raising achievement scores and lack of support from supervisors. The supports of having effective mentors and instructional coaches, being able to distribute leadership and having valuable college coursework were common among participants. Other major themes included the importance of finding balance in the principalship, the impact of health issues, the rewards of being a school leader and advice they would give to new administrators. Current and future principals, policy makers and school districts can benefit from the data gathered as it relates to the needed skill sets, supports and stressors to promote less turnover in the principalship.

Purpose. The purpose of this single-case study was to explore principals’ perceptions of self-efficacy beliefs as effective instructional leaders during a period of educational transition in a semiurban, unified school district in Southern California.

Methodology. The researcher used exploratory case study, conducting semistructured, open-ended, interviews in private settings, eliciting principals’ self-efficacy perceptions. The researcher interviewed eight principals, elementary through high school, using a social constructivist interpretive framework.

Findings. The theoretical framework was Bandura’s theories of agency, efficacy, and alignment to The Wallace Foundation’s research of effective leadership practices. The following eight broad areas indicate how principals’ self-efficacy impacts student achievement and how environment influences principals’ self-efficacy: This is significant change, having a process will help, collaborate to get the best ideas, data informs and has many formats, everything is new, principals need support too, principals maintain a vision, and determining meaningful feedback.

Conclusions. This study led to recommendations supporting principal efficacy and aligning to The Wallace Foundation’s research on effective leadership practices, revealing the need for improving data-informed decision making, defining evidence-based classroom practices with monitoring and support, establishing external-internal teams to build leadership around effective practices, creating intradistrict principal networks fostering collaboration and growth, and developing multisource feedback instruments for evaluation and leadership development.

Recommendations. Principal efficacy remains important based on the conclusions. Future research should explore structured principal learning networks’ impact on efficacy, relationships between new accountability models and principals’ self-efficacy, longitudinal impact on professional standards for educational leaders on efficacy, and relationships between efficacy and multisource evaluative feedback assessments.

For decades, accountability for student results has been at the forefront of school reform. While many school-based factors have influence, teacher quality has consistently been identified as the most important school-based factor related to student achievement (Rivkin, Hanushek, & Kain, 2000; Stronge, 2007). Research also suggests that a quality teacher can substantially minimize the challenges faced by at risk students (Hanushek, Kain, & Rivkin, 1998). However, defining a quality teacher and determining the factors related to teacher effectiveness are not easy tasks. This research study answers the overarching question What are the primary criteria utilized by school leaders to ensure the hiring of high quality teachers? by examining school leaders’ and novice teachers’ perceptions of the important factors related to teacher quality (teacher inputs, system inputs, and comprehensive hiring practices).

The socio-economic achievement gap is prevalent in schools across the country. There are many high-poverty, high-performing schools that have been successful in closing this achievement gap. This study investigated 30 Illinois elementary school principals from high-poverty, high-achieving schools. Principals were given the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and data was collected about school location, number of administrative jobs previously held, gender, race, and ethnicity of the principal. The personality types of the principals were compared to historical data on personality types of school principals. There were three findings in the study. Principals with the sensing-thinking-judging (STJ) type were most prevalent in the sample of high-poverty, high-performing schools. The rate of STJ and specifically ESTJ in the sample was higher than the historical data for principal personality type. Principals in their third or more administrative job in the sample had higher scores for extravert than those in their first or second job. More research is recommended including larger samples, samples including high schools, and comparison research with principals of high-poverty, low-performing schools.

Although there is a significant body of literature on superintendents and another on social justice, there is not a comprehensive body of research on superintendents who focus on social justice issues. It is important to study what actions superintendents with a social justice focus take to address inequities in their school districts. The primary research question for this study is: how do superintendents within Los Angeles County define social justice, and how have they implemented social justice tenets within their school districts? To answer this question, eight semistructured interviews were conducted with current superintendents within Los Angeles County. The results of the interviews were then analyzed and the patterns were compared to existing social justice frameworks. The findings identified an opportunity to continue to clarify the definition of social justice and to expand upon current frameworks utilized for principals. In addition, recommendations for superintendent preparation programs and advice for existing superintendents were identified.

While teacher stress is a topic that has been widely explored, there is a lack of research that focuses on teacher stress at high-performing schools. This study used Clark and Estes' gap analysis framework to examine what knowledge, motivation, and organizational resources teachers at a high-performance high school need to effectively manage workplace stress. Analysis of evidence from one-on-one interviews and researcher constructed documents revealed that while teachers had declarative knowledge of workplace stress and coping, they lacked the procedural and metacognitive knowledge needed to apply what they know. Furthermore, lack of self-efficacy and attainment value impeded teachers’ ability to manage workplace stress, especially in the face of high-performing expectations and work demands within a high-performing culture and setting. Lastly, inadequate resources also served as barriers to effective workplace stress management. To address these knowledge, motivation, and organizational needs, a comprehensive workplace stress management program that includes training, communities of practice, and peer model partnerships was recommended.

This research was based on a multi-case study design focused on the leadership practice of high school principals and assistant principals and their roles in improving graduation rates. The study sought to answer one overarching research questions: In schools that demonstrate an increase in graduation rates what leadership practices are evidenced in principals and assistant principals and teacher leaders. One sub-question addressed the tools and interventions that the leadership team practices in relation to improving graduation rates and the second sub-question addressed the accountability of changing standards with respect to graduation rates. A third sub-question sought to answer how interactions of principals and assistant principals relevant to improvement in student performance are interpreted by faculty and staff. The purposeful sample from each of the three high schools consisted of one principal, four assistant principals and one teacher leader. Data collection methods included interviews, observations and qualitative document review of high school graduation rates.

The study reveals six major findings: (a) school leaders establish a clear vision, mission or goal to increase graduation rates, (b) identification, management and evaluation of academic enrichment programs are necessary interventions for student success, (c) school leaders build a culture of student learning and achievement through a system of processes, programs and support initiatives, (d) the leadership team is knowledgeable, strongly motivated and devoted to their role as leaders in serving all students, (e) school leaders use data as guiding variables in making decisions regarding at-risk student achievement and success, and (f) school leaders develop and foster positive relationships with students and teachers.

Creekside High School is a high-performing public high school where students who are not White or Asian face a racialized school environment. This dissertation examines the school’s initiative to detrack its ninth grade Algebra class. Detracking is the process of placing students in heterogeneous classes instead of grouping students by ability. The framework of design-based research was adopted to perform this study. Design-based research places the researcher and practitioners in collaboration working to iteratively design interventions. Chapter Two is a qualitative study that examined the perceptions of tracking shared by teachers and the community. This study found that the community holds many misperceptions about detracking due to lack of communication from the school and the district. However, the study also found a small group who want to build more equitable solutions. Chapter Three is a quantitative study of student outcomes. There was a slight drop in student grades between the tracked course and the detracked course with no drop in exam scores. Furthermore, students in the detracked course were more successful in their subsequent Geometry courses. Chapter 4 is qualitative study of pedagogy and teacher perceptions. Pedagogy changed during the detracking process. The tracked course was very teacher-centered, and the rigor was not universal due to there being two levels of Algebra. During the first year of the detracked course, the course became much more student-centered, and the average level of rigor increased. However, for advanced students, rigor and challenge were missing, and this was an area of focus for the second year. Teacher perceptions also changed throughout the process. The teachers on the team have grown into viewing Mathematics as an interconnected, non-linear system of thought and have moved beyond questioning detracking to developing solutions. Chapter Five is a qualitative study synthesizing all of the data collected in Chapters Two through Four. These data were used to propose a leadership framework called Critical Design-Based School Leadership. Critical refers to the use of a critical lens focused on equity and Design-Based refers to the use of design-based research techniques as the mechanism for school leadership.

The purpose of this multiple comparative case study was to examine why and how an intensive academic-orientation innovation was diffused and adopted at five different public research universities. The innovation under study was the Louisiana State University (LSU) Biology Intensive Orientation for Students (BIOS) program. Everett Rogers’ (2003) diffusion of innovation theory served as the theoretical framework for this study. Program documentation was collected and reviewed, an on-line survey was administered and completed by each program coordinator/director, and telephone interviews were conducted with each program coordinator/director. The study found there was relative fidelity in the adoption of BIOS and supported the presence of Rogers’ (2003) innovation attributes. A model was developed through this study to describe a successful innovation adoption process; essential elements, roles, and relationships were identified. Key findings of the study included the following: (a) need for a catalyst that the innovation addressed and impacted in a positive way; (b) a credible change agent, who was available to share knowledge about the innovation; (c) a champion, who was committed to the successful adoption of the innovation; and (d) an opinion leader, who supported the innovation adoption. The model further indicates there must be a productive and positive working relationship between the change agent and the champion, as well as an established positive working relationship between the champion and opinion leader. Discontinuation of the innovation adoption is possible if there is a change in opinion leadership or a less complex or less costly solution to the initial catalyst is discovered.

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine the effect that Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators, non-CTE concentrators and academic concentrators have on the on-time graduation of 1035 high school students in 7 high schools in Arizona for the 2015–2016 school year. There were three research questions that drove this study: 1) What effect does CTE concentration and non-CTE concentration have on on-time graduation? 2) What effect does CTE concentration and academic concentration have on on-time graduation? And 3) What effect does non-CTE concentration and academic concentration have on on-time graduation? The theoretical foundation for this study was social cognitive theory with a focus on academic self-efficacy. The research questions were addressed using a chi-squared analysis and binary logistic regression (logit). The Chi-square test showed that there is a statistically significant association between CTE concentrators and on-time graduation χ ² (1) = .15.893, p = .000. On-time graduation was not independent of CTE program completion for CTE concentrators and non-CTE concentrators, but on-time graduation was associated with program status. The binary logistic regression (logit), showed that CTE concentrators were 4.088 times, R² = .061, p = .000, and non-CTE concentrators were 1.907 times, R ² = .015, p = .047, more likely to have higher on-time graduation over academic concentrators. These findings suggest that students who take or complete a CTE program will graduate on-time.

Inclusive STEM-focused high schools (ISHSs) are a relatively new phenomenon in the landscape of public education. This study of four exemplar ISHSs (identified by experts in STEM education as highly successfully in preparing students underrepresented in STEM for STEM majors in college and future STEM careers) provides a rich description of the approach to ISHS school leadership by identifying various internal and external leadership factors influencing school leadership. This study examined an existing data set that included site visits to four ISHSs along with pre- and post-visit data, and a cross-case analysis focused on the leadership contributions of ISHS leaders and their larger community.

This study found that the ISHSs expanded the concept of school leadership to include leadership both within and outside the school. In addition, school leaders needed autonomy to innovate and respond to their schools’ needs. This included autonomy in hiring new teachers, autonomy from school district influence, and autonomy from restrictive teachers’ union regulation and policies. Finally, ISHSs needed to continually invest in increasing their schools’ capacities. This included investing in teacher professionalization, providing pathways for school leadership, collaborating with business and industry, and identifying the best student supports. A product of this study was a proposition for characterizing school leadership in an ISHS. This proposition may offer valuable insight, implications, and information for states and schools districts that may be planning or improving STEM education programs.

International expatriate schools require educational leaders to guide culturally diverse stakeholders as they prepare students to address world problems. In the United States, effective educational leadership has been demonstrated as necessary to implement research-based practices. However, researchers have not yet established the leadership needed from expatriate kindergarten through Grade 12 school leaders seeking to develop global citizens. This gap leads to the question of how international expatriate educational leaders demonstrate empathetic, emotionally self-managed, or interculturally sensitive skills when meeting a school’s global-minded strategic plan. The purpose of this case study was to describe expatriate school leaders’ perceptions of how they and their peers demonstrate these skills. The conceptual framework included distributed leadership, emotional intelligence, and intercultural sensitivity in the context of global citizenship. Data from an expatriate middle school in China included interviews with school leaders, documents, and researcher notes. The results indicated that expatriate leaders demonstrated empathy through social responsibility, emotional self-management through personal and professional competence, and intercultural sensitivity through active civic engagement. International expatriate schools may benefit if educational leaders demonstrate support and concern and provide examples of the global-mindedness expected of students. These results can guide faculty members’ professional competencies toward implementing instructional programs that target the development of global citizens. Social change could result from international expatriate schools applying described models of distributed leadership toward a unified and socially just purpose.

New Castle County Vocational Technical School District (NCCVT) is a vocational school district in Delaware consisting of four high schools. NCCVT’s vision “is to deliver world-class Career and Technical programs combined with rigorous academic curricula to equip students with the 21st century skills that will best serve the State of Delaware and the global community” (NCCVT, 2018, para. 1). I have served as the principal of St. Georges Technical High School (St. Georges) since 2012. As the principal, I have recognized the value of distributive leadership.

Distributive leadership involves working with several people to help inform decision-making that will improve the performance of educators and increase student achievement. The shared responsibility and experiences that teachers encounter through distributive leadership affect teacher capacities and motivation. The portfolio focuses on building the necessary leadership capacity to both achieve our instructional focus and reach our student achievement goals. Specifically, the ELP (Building the leadership capacity to achieve instructional focus and increase student achievement) centers on developing three school-based teams of teachers and administrators working together to improve teacher practices focused on literacy. The three leadership teams developed are the Powerful Development Team (PDT), Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), and the Instructional Coaches. Particular attention is given to the PDT because they exemplified an effective model of how distributive leadership can be operationalized at the building level. The improvement strategies centered on achieving the instructional focus goals, increasing capacity and distributing leadership. Teachers and administrators worked collaboratively to complete the following: a) select leaders and establish the PDT, b) build leadership capacity, and c) teach leadership skills and literacy strategies. The improvement strategies resulted in the development of: a) a qualified team of teachers working collaboratively to accomplish the school-wide instructional goals, b) two teams of teachers (ILT and coaches) supporting instructors with implementation of the school-wide instructional focus, c) a PDT team learning leadership skills and literacy strategies; d) three teams (PDT, ILT, and coaches) enhancing the instruction of teachers. These developments led to an increase in student achievement, including an increase in scores on the PSAT and SAT. On both assessments the school scored above the district and state average. The PDT believes that our instructional focus on research-based literacy strategies that is aligned with the Common Core Standards played a major factor in the students’ increased achievement on the PSAT and SAT. Recommendations for the future include providing specific feedback and resources for candidates who are not selected to participate on the PDT, collecting and analyzing data to determine goals for the instructional leadership groups, reevaluating the administrative walkthrough tool, creating a coaches’ walkthrough tool, and providing additional training on the four disciplines that will help build a cohesive team and healthy organization.

Over the past fifty years, cheating among high school students increased substantially and affected the morale of students (Simha, Armstrong, & Albert, 2012). According to a nationally representative survey of 36,000 U.S. adolescents, some 60% of high school students confessed to cheating on a test during the previous school year, and that the behavior among these students had spiked over the past 50 years (Murdock, Beauchamp, & Hinton, 2008). Armenian high school students agree that cheating is morally wrong; however, their actions do not reflect this belief (Bowers, 1964; McCabe & Trevino, 1996; Semerci, 2006). The study aims to address gaps in the literature by using Kohlberg’s (1958) theory of moral development (as cited in Hannah, Lester, & Lester, 2005) to examine how academic dishonesty, such as cheating, is associated with the moral development level of Armenian private high school students in Southern California, and the extent to which, if at all, this relationship is moderated by the degree of students’ performance orientation. No prior research is known to have been done with this specific cultural group in a high school setting.

Small City School Districts across New York State are becoming increasingly fearful of losing newly hired, highly talented teachers. In the United States, 8% of teachers leave the profession annually and greater than 50% quit teaching before reaching retirement age (Sutcher, 2016). A study done on teacher retention decisions in New York City revealed lack of administrative support as one of the top five reasons for teacher attrition (Boyd, Grossman, Ing, Lankford, Loeb & Wyckoff, 2011). The importance of a teacher’s effect on student achievement cannot be overstated. Teachers have more influence on student achievement than any other factor (Carver-Thomas & Darling-Hammond, 2017).

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the effect that high school principals have on the retention of high school teachers in Small City School Districts in New York State. This research examined the responsibilities of high school principals who are important to teachers’ decision to remain in their current role; determine which responsibilities exist in their schools; and analyze the correlation between the two. The leadership practices and principles that are defined in The 21 Responsibilities of the School Leader, as outlined by Marzano, Waters and McNulty’s book (Marzano, McNulty, & Waters, 2005) School Leadership that Works, are the conceptual frame for this study.

This study utilized anonymous survey results from 295 respondents currently employed in 13 Small City School Districts located within the Northeastern Regional Information Center of New York State. The findings from the research indicate that while all of the 21 Responsibilities used in this research are existent, respondents were neutral in their perception of whether any of them were important to supporting teacher retention.

However, when separating the results by demographics, there were significant differences by gender and years of teaching experience. Responses by females and teachers with less than 10 years’ experience demonstrated statistically significant differences, whereas they perceive a vast majority of the 21 Responsibilities used in this study to be more important than their male and veteran teacher counterparts.

Also, the Responsibility of Involvement with Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment ranked last amongst survey results as important to supporting teacher retention and perceived existence by the building principal.

Finally, all leadership behaviors used in this study demonstrated a moderately positive correlation between what was perceived as important to supporting teacher retention and perceived existence of the behavior by the principal.

Much has been written in the past twenty years about the importance of leadership at the school site level. There has been a major emphasis in the literature, in fact, on the power of the principal and the critical nature of the role for student achievement. Capable leaders have the ability to turn a struggling school into a thriving school. However, in urban school districts, high school principals tend not to stay on the job very long. There is considerable research in the area of principal retention as scholars attempt to uncover what factors influence retention. Large numbers of principals cite “stress” as their reason for leaving. However, there is not as much research into the ways in which stress affects high school principals in the urban context. Additionally, some urban high school principals seem to flourish in the position and are able to create significant and sustainable improvements at their urban schools.

After a review of the current literature on the urban context, retention, emotion, self-regulation, stress, and the role of the superintendent, this study will examined eight urban high school principals attempting to understand why they leave their positions or seem to thrive in them. The findings surfaced point to ways district personnel can better support their leaders and to inform administrator preparation programs about how to best prepare their candidates for transformative leadership positions.