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The Rural Educator

Journal

Principals

Articles 1 - 5 of 5

Full-Text Articles in Education

Learning From Each Other: Experiences Of Rural Principals In A Networked Learning Community, Jeana M. Partin, Sonya D. Hayes Apr 2024

Learning From Each Other: Experiences Of Rural Principals In A Networked Learning Community, Jeana M. Partin, Sonya D. Hayes

The Rural Educator

Rural school principals in Tennessee face serious challenges in leading their schools, including isolation, high turnover, and a lack of instructional leadership skills. Facilitated by a state university, the Tennessee Rural Principals Network (TRPN) was developed to provide professional learning opportunities for rural school principals. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of principals in rural schools who participated in the TRPN during the years 2019–2021 (n = 133). The study used a basic qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews of 12 participants. Through our data analysis, key learning strengths and challenges were identified and organized …


In-The-Moment Experiences Of Rural School Principals In The Covid-19 Pandemic, Simone White, Hobart Harmon, Jerry Johnson, Brian O'Neill May 2022

In-The-Moment Experiences Of Rural School Principals In The Covid-19 Pandemic, Simone White, Hobart Harmon, Jerry Johnson, Brian O'Neill

The Rural Educator

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the many existing inequalities in education systems across the world. Not all children have easy access to educational online resources or digital technologies, a situation more amplified in rural contexts where access, connectivity and affordability play a significant factor. This qualitative account reveals examples of how rural school leaders were able to find innovative ways early in the COVID-19 pandemic to address the remote learning needs of their students and families. This paper shares in-the-moment experiences of rural principals, and those who supported them, in quickly transitioning to address student needs when school buildings closed. …


Leadership Challenges Of The Rural School Principal, Barbara Klocko, Riley J. Justis Dec 2019

Leadership Challenges Of The Rural School Principal, Barbara Klocko, Riley J. Justis

The Rural Educator

As stress impacts the organization and operations of a school, leader stressors may be determined by the setting, years of experience of the leader and the greater educational landscape in which the principal must lead. The researchers sought to differentiate between the perceived stress and joy of urban and rural school principals. Findings derived from this time series design inquiry suggest that despite external influence, there is limited change in reported stress of rural school principals. Though the leadership in any setting is complex and multi-faceted, the researchers identified and assessed contributing factors.


Superintendents’ Perceptions Regarding The Supervision And Evaluation Of Principals In A Rural State, David Hvidston, Courtney Ann Mckim Dec 2019

Superintendents’ Perceptions Regarding The Supervision And Evaluation Of Principals In A Rural State, David Hvidston, Courtney Ann Mckim

The Rural Educator

The goals for this mixed methods study were to examine superintendents’ perceptions regarding their own supervision and evaluation of principals in a rural state. Five research questions guided the mixed methods inquiry. An online survey tool was used to gather perceptions from superintendents regarding their own evaluation and supervision of principals. Participants solicited included all 48 superintendents from a rural Mountain West state. Out of the participants solicited 23 superintendents agreed to participate (48% response rate). Results from this study provided implications for those who train superintendents and those who supervise and evaluate principals. Keywords: superintendents, principal supervision, principal evaluation, …


I’M Paying The Time For Someone Else’S Crime: Principals And Core Teachers At Rural Middle Schools Under Chronic Academic Stress, Jafeth E. Sanchez, Janet Usinger, Bill Thornton, William E. Sparkman Apr 2018

I’M Paying The Time For Someone Else’S Crime: Principals And Core Teachers At Rural Middle Schools Under Chronic Academic Stress, Jafeth E. Sanchez, Janet Usinger, Bill Thornton, William E. Sparkman

The Rural Educator

Today, many principals are assigned to struggling schools with the mandate to quickly change the academic trajectory of the students. Interviews were conducted to gain an understanding of how principals and core teachers working at rural middle schools under chronic academic stress perceived the increased academic expectations at their schools. Three key findings were revealed: (a) There were misaligned principal and teacher interpretations of efforts to improve the school; (b) there tended to be an ongoing focus on what was wrong with the school; and (c) principals felt they were alone in the process. A discussion of these findings is …