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A Mixed Methods Study Of Efficacy And Digital Learning Competencies For School Administrators In A Rural North Carolina District, Stephanie B. Harrell

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods research study was to determine the efficacy of digital learning competencies for school administrators in a rural eastern North Carolina district. The study had four research questions that were answered through a survey and a focus group. The survey had 44 quantitative items that participants chose from a 4-point Likert scale and two open-ended questions. A total of 20 administrators from District A completed the survey. A focus group with four participants was conducted following the closing of the survey to gain a better understanding of the results from the survey. Previous research in …

Valuating All Parts Of The System: Addressing Administrator Health And Well-Being To Support Optimal Wellness And Effective School Leadership, Melissa L. Hunte

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

This Organizational Improvement Plan addresses key aspects of the overarching complexities of school administrators’ workload that has compromised and adversely affected their overall health, wellness, and well-being. Deep consideration of research on principal and vice principal well-being is explored, as their leadership affects and influences effective teacher instruction and optimal student learning and achievement. The Wheel of Wellness details the interconnectedness of various aspects of life and health, permitting this organizational improvement plan to utilize a holistic approach to physical, emotional, and mental wellness and well-being. Using an interpretivist lens, through the change path model, applied with a balanced scorecard …

Examining Attention To Leadership When Hiring School Administrators In A High Poverty, Ethnically Diverse School District: A Case Study, Veronica A. Tigert

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods case study was to understand the hiring practices of a school district when considering a principal and how the school district attends to leadership within those hiring practices. The central premise of the study was leadership matters and is second to teaching in student achievement. However, the historical record paints a picture of less than adequate attention to effective hiring practices and a limited scope when addressing leadership. A small school district in California was selected to participate in the study. The design incorporated mixed methods to analyze the hiring practices through a survey …

Emotional Intelligence During A Punctuated Equilibrium, Eric R. Kapuza

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

A punctuated equilibrium refers to periods of stability, with little or no change, disrupted by a punctuated period of rapid and dramatic change. A non-experimental quantitative research design investigated the degree of influence that emotional intelligence exerted upon predicting leadership ability and job satisfaction for school administrators during the punctuated equilibrium initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Short Form (TEIQue-SF) was disseminated electronically and completed by 33 school administrators from a variety of academic institutions. Study participant perceptions of emotional intelligence were statistically significantly predictive of self-perceived effectual leadership during a punctuated equilibrium. The predictive effect …

For Colored Girls Who Have Experienced Institutional Racism Because The Discipline Code Is Not Enuf: Principals And Assistant Principals, School Discipline Policies, And Discipline Disparities Faced By Black Girls, Lecinda R. Jennings

Theses and Dissertations

For many years, school discipline has been a research focus, particularly the disparities in discipline between Black and White males. Black girls are suspended at a rate that is 5.3 times that of White girls and approximately the same rate as Black boys. Black girls represent the fastest growing group of students who receive discipline disparities. The goal of this case study was to explore if and how principals and assistant principals contribute to discipline disparities faced by Black girls. I discussed the lived experiences of high school administrators to capture their encounters with race, gender, and the implementation of …

Elementary And Middle School Administrators’ Decisions About Professional Development For Bilingual Educators, Enid Montalvo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

K–8 school administrators are expected to provide professional development (PD) to bilingual teachers that will enhance instructional practices. PD is an important factor that may lead to student academic achievement. However, it was unclear in what ways K–8 administrators provided PD for bilingual teachers to enhance instructional practices for Latino English-language learners (ELL). The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how K–8 administrators used reflective practices to identify ELL-focused PD for bilingual teachers within two Midwestern school districts. The conceptual framework for the current study was Schön’s theory of reflective practice. The guiding questions asked how K–8 …

Principal Preparation For The Bahamas: A Partnership Approach, Raquel R. Edgecombe

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Current literature has investigated university-district partnerships in numerous ways; however, based on a review of the literature, no study has sought the insights of potential partners about the partnership arrangement prior to the start of the partnership agreement. The purpose of this study was to explore educational leadership practitioners’ understandings of partnership in principal preparation. This inquiry was guided by the following research questions: (a) How do educational stakeholders perceive the ideal partnership arrangement for the preparation of principals; and (b) In what ways do the perspectives of educational stakeholders reflect broader discourse about the quality of educational leadership preparation? …

A Qualitative Study Exploring State School Leaders' Work With Teachers In Argentina, Eliana Belén Camargo

Theses - ALL

Principals' influence on teachers' practices is the second factor, after classroom instruction, that most impact student learning and success. In Argentina state schools serve 70% of the students, therefore, state school leaders play a key role in the K-12 education of the country. The present study explored the experiences of six Argentinian state school administrators (principals and assistant principals) about their role in working with teachers. This qualitative study examined the following question: How do Argentinian state school administrators experience their role in working with and leading teachers? A qualitative, phenomenological research approach and two of the most prominent educational …

A Qualitative Study Exploring State School Leaders' Work With Teachers In Argentina, Eliana Belén Camargo

Theses - ALL

Principals’ influence on teachers’ practices is the second factor, after classroom instruction, that most impact student learning and success. In Argentina state schools serve 70% of the students, therefore, state school leaders play a key role in the K-12 education of the country. The present study explored the experiences of six Argentinian state school administrators (principals and assistant principals) about their role in working with teachers. This qualitative study examined the following question: How do Argentinian state school administrators experience their role in working with and leading teachers? A qualitative, phenomenological research approach and two of the most prominent educational …

The Role Of School And District Leaders In Discipline Systems In Positive Outlier High Schools, Catherine E. Guthrie

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Using secondary data from a NY Kids comparative case study conducted in 2017-2018 of two positive outlier high schools, the purpose of this dissertation was to learn more about their discipline practices and the role secondary school leaders play in shaping those discipline systems. Two positive outlier high schools were studied, as they were identified as achieving better than expected graduation outcomes for youth of color, but also have proportionate, or close to proportionate, rates of exclusionary discipline for the same population of students. Interview transcripts from the larger study as well as additional school documents (i.e., code of conduct, …

The Administrator Effect: How El Education Principals Influence Teachers’ Ability To Overcome Challenge, Natalie E. Osborne Smith

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Teacher attrition and movement are difficulties facing school systems today. A variety of concerns contribute to teacher attrition and movement including dissatisfaction, school staffing actions, classroom factors, lack of administrative support, lack of resources, and student performance factors. As a result, educators are prone to burnout due to the stresses of teaching, which in turn leads to attrition and movement. School principals can stem the tide of teacher dissatisfaction and attrition by providing technical and adaptive scaffolds for teachers. Leaders can begin to provide these supports by examining their own beliefs and actions around mindset, grittiness, and resistance to change. …

Social Media As A Tool To Effectively Communicate With Stakeholders: School Administrators And Superintendents' Perceptions, Steven Coleman Hampton

Dissertations

This quantitative research study analyzed the perceptions of school administrators on the effectiveness of using social media outlets to communicate with stakeholders. School administrators throughout the State of Mississippi completed an online survey developed by the researcher identifying the social media outlets they use to communicate with their stakeholders and the effectiveness of using social media outlets. Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, Principals, Assistant Principals, and Public Relations Directors with various years of experience completed the survey. The study revealed there was a statistical significant difference between age groups of the school administrators with the concerns of using social media outlets as …

The Perceptions Of Mississippi Secondary School Counselors And School Administrators Regarding The Role Of School Counselors In Dropout Prevention, Sherrell Chollottie Gilmore

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to investigate the perceptions of high school administrators and professional high school counselors regarding the primary role of professional school counselors in dropout prevention and the most appropriate way to assess professional school counselors’ effectiveness in dropout prevention. The modified Counselor Role Survey instrument was used to survey high school administrators and professional high school counselors. The study used a descriptive causal-comparative quantitative design.

Hypotheses were tested using independent t-tests. The results of the study indicated there was no statistically significant difference between the perceptions of Mississippi high school administrators and professional high …

The Relationship Between Principal Effectiveness And The Use Of Counseling Skills, Valerie Suzanne Hodge Cleckler

Dissertations

In most educational leadership programs, the working relationship of the principal with teachers, parents, and the community is discussed, but the relationship of the principal and counselor is typically not given much, if any, attention. Principals are not trained in the use of counseling skills in educational leadership programs at Mississippi universities (Delta State University, 2008; Jackson State University, 2007; Mississippi State University, 2008; Mississippi University for Women, 2008, 2009; The University Southern Mississippi, 2009; University of Mississippi, 2007). The leadership training provided to school administrators is very important because of the role they play in the success of the …

If And To What Extent Spirituality Impacts The Leadership Practices Of Four African American Superintendents, Christopher James Williams Sr.

Dissertations

Public school superintendents have one of the most challenging, demanding, and visible positions in American society. They provide educational leadership in approximately 15,499 school districts across the United States. Their visibility is marked by the fact that the majority of leadership positions are held by non-minority individuals (American Association of School Administrators, 1992). The underrepresentation of minorities in public school leadership positions on a national level has been thoroughly documented over the years, and the limited representation of African Americans in top positions of public school administration is glaring (AASA, 1992, 1983; Jones & Montenegro, 1988, 1985; Montenegro, 1993). The …

Pennsylvania Superintendent-Preparation: How Has It Changed?, Sue A. King

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose for this study was to add to the research on school administrator preparation programs by examining and describing the content, structure, and overall design of university preparation programs in Pennsylvania for school superintendents to determine the degree to which the programs of the 26 state-approved providers of superintendent certification are reflective of the current research and theory regarding effective school district leadership, particularly instructional leadership. At a time when public education is under fire from political leaders and the general public, school administrators are expected to design and manage education systems that meet the needs of all learners …

The Principal's Role In Teacher Retention, Sametra Danyal Chisolm

Dissertations

As efforts are made to identify factors contributing to teachers leaving or staying in the teaching profession, teacher retention continues to pose a challenge for school administrators. Factors such as principal behaviors, principal leadership, school climate/teacher morale, professional development opportunities, and teacher mentoring programs seem to positively impact teachers' decisions to remain in the profession.

The purpose of this study was to gather data to determine whether principal behaviors, principal leadership, school climate/teacher morale, professional development opportunities, and teacher mentoring programs affect teacher retention. A questionnaire, adapted from the Mecklenburg Citizens for Public Education (formally Charlotte Advocates for Education) research …

A Validation Study Of The Administrator Data Use Survey, Francis Nicholas Sheboy

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to create an original instrument, the Administrator Data Use Survey (ADUS), to assess practicing school administrators' perceptions of the importance of data to school improvement, the importance of data to their position, and the degree to which they feel their graduate preparation in educational administration adequately prepared them for the data use demands of their position. Validation panels were used to assess construct, content, criterion, and face validity of the ADUS. In addition, factor analysis was utilized for construct validation. The ADUS was sent to a random sampling of practicing administrators from New York …

The Special Education Administrator: Job Satisfaction, Workload And Turnover, Mary Lynn De Pierro

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Females Of Color Who Have Served As Superintendent: Their Journeys To The Superintendency And Perceptions Of The Office, Paula Louise Collins

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to chronicle the journeys often females of color to the office of the superintendent, to document how they use the power of the office and to record their perceptions, as superintendent, of the office( s) they hold or have held. It provides an in-depth look at the females as people and as leaders. One premise of this study is that access to education and equity in employment opportunity are key factors in determining who may serve in the nation's highest offices. Half of the respondents are the products of legally enforced segregation in their …

The Role Of Mentoring In Developing Professional And Personal Competencies For School Administrators, Marguerite Verble Shook

Legacy ETDs

In the state of Georgia and across the nation there was a shortage of principals. A new supply of administrators was needed to guide education through the 21st century. These leaders needed updated knowledge and skills to address the needs of an educational system affected by educational reform. Effective leadership allowed administrators to view situations in both the eyes of management and leadership. A mentoring program for beginning administrators provided guidance in developing these skills and in recruiting and retaining individuals for these critical positions.

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of a mentoring program for …

A Study Of Job Satisfaction Among Urban Superintendents In New Jersey, Richard J. Malanowski

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Educational Administrators And Computer Usage: Leadership Styles And Computer Attitudes In Small Secondary Schools In North America, Daniel Hong Lim

Dissertations

Problem. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the computer attitudes of educational administrators and teachers, the leadership styles of educational administrators, and computer usage in secondary schools.

Method. The design of this study used the questionnaire survey to collect data investigating relationships between educational administrators' attitudes toward computers, their leadership styles, and computer use in schools. The sample of the study was derived from educational administrators and teachers from 58 Seventh-day Adventist senior academies (i.e., high schools) found in the United States and Canada. Two instruments were selected for this study. The Computer Attitude Scale …

The Administrator's Role As Curriculum Leader In Implementing Core Teaming At The Middle School Level, Brenda Maddox-Dolan

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Interpersonal Relations: The Key To Effective School Administration, Kenneth A. Azzari

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Self-Perceived Current And Desired Career Stages Of Federal Government Engineers And Public School Educators In The Central Florida Area, Dennis Stephan Duke

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the perceptions of public school educators and Federal Government engineers in the Central Florida area to determine their self-perceived current and desired career stages (Dalton, Thompson and Price, 1977). The influences of age, education and tenure variables on these perceptions and on the employee's preference for a technical or managerial career track were also examined. The rationale for the study is based upon findings in the literature which indicate that both occupations are experiencing motivation and retention problems caused by the requirement to leave classrooms or technical engineering positions and enter management ranks in order to gain …

An Administrative Microcomputer Literacy Training Model For Elementary School Administrators Of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Karen Ann Bosch

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

The purpose of this study is to design a process product administrative microcomputer literacy training model for 43 principals and 44 assistant principals in the Virginia Beach elementary schools. In order to accomplish this purpose, a systematic process for assessing administrative microcomputer literacy training was developed. The training assessment process included the identification of the following: (1) administrative microcomputer literacy training needs, (2) school administrators' attitudes toward microcomputer use, (3) barriers and facilitators influencing administrative use of microcomputers, (4) organizational factors needed to facilitate and support administrative use of microcomputers in schools, and (5) school administrators' training preferences and learning …

The Self Perceptions Of School Principals Compared To Their Actual Performance On Certain Affective Traits, Michael L. Holtgren

Dissertations

Problem. The role of the school principal is paramount in the operation of a school system, and affective behavior is an essential part of that role. It was the purpose of the study to determine if a discrepancy exists between the self-perceptions of principals as affective educators and their actual performance.

Method. Thirty-two school principals, their superintendents, and a sampling of their teachers were studied. The self-perceptions of the principals were identified concerning eight affective traits and eight school-climate factors. The superintendent and teachers evaluated their principal's performance on these traits and factors.

The Charles F. Kettering Foundation "School Climate …

A Comparison And Contrast Of The Idealized Role Of The Secondary School Principal As Perceived By Superintendents, Principals, And Teachers, Owen J. Kosik

All Master's Theses

The differences and similarities concerning the role of the secondary school principal as perceived by superintendents, principals, and teachers was studied. All superintendents and principals and twenty-five randomly selected teachers at the five traditional high schools in the Tri-Cities provided the input from which the data was drawn and conclusions were reached. A survey questionnaire containing forty statements frequently suggested for the secondary school principal was the tool utilized for this procedure. The results showed that there were similarities of role perceptions for the secondary school principal and there were also dissimilarities of role perceptions as seen by those same …

An Investigation Of Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Certain Aspects Of The High School Principal’S Role, William Douglas Garrison

All Master's Theses

This study attempts to determine certain aspects of the roles that teachers expect and desire administrators to play. The following studies suggest that correct information about teachers’ expectations may be useful to an administrator.