Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Experiential Leadership Learning: Narratives Of A Multiple Case Study Of Mexican School Leaders Appointed To Indigenous Schools, Manuel Lopez-Delgado, Argelia Estrada-Loya

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Training and preparation of school leaders have an impact on the quality of leadership displayed in their readiness for the leadership practice. However, in Mexico the training and preparation processes for school leaders are unclear and lack uniformity. The way of access to headship has promoted that school leaders learn to lead in their role without previous preparation for the position. This paper presents the findings of a study conducted through narratives that analyzed the leadership learning processes of novice and experienced school leaders. The study identified important learning experiences as the receptive observation, malleable observation, practical experiences of leadership, …

Evaluating Principal Effectiveness: A Review Of The Literature, Jerry Burkett

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

The evaluation of a campus principal can be a challenging process due largely to the complicated factors that exist to capture an accurate assessment of a principal’s leadership effectiveness. Generally, principal evaluations are conducted by district-level officials who often do not have the time or the resources to observe campus principals on a regular basis. Further, principal evaluation systems (PES) are designed to improve the practice of principals (Clifford & Ross, 2012; Davis, Kearney, Sanders, Thomas, & Leon, 2011; Fuller & Hollingworth, 2014a; Fuller et al., 2015), and there has historically been an acknowledgment that these evaluations do not always …

The Virtual Counseling Transition And Its Influence On School Counselor Self-Efficacy, Tara Hornor, Lee A. Westberry

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine school counselors’ experiences transitioning to virtual counseling during the Covid-19 pandemic, the factors influencing their sense of confidence, and successes and challenges associated with the transition to virtual counseling. Study participants characterized the transition to virtual counseling as challenging and reported the process decreased their self-efficacy. Participants identified four salient categories of challenges associated with the transition to virtual counseling, including difficulty maintaining accountability and contact with students, decreased work/life balance, diminished sense of connection with students, and lack of preparation to conduct virtual school counseling. Successes resulting from the transition …

Using Video Games To Jumpstart Student-Centered Research And Inquiry In The General Education Humanities Classroom, Melissa Ridley Elmes

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

This article discusses preliminary results of a study of the author’s use of gaming to facilitate research-based writing assignments in her classes, focusing specifically on a 200-level general education introductory literature course, The Medieval World, taught in Spring 2023 at a U.S. midwestern private university. The purpose of the study was to determine whether approaching topic selection for the research-based writing assignment in a general education literature course through gaming could result in more student buy-in and thus, greater student retention, better student work, and a more successful learning experience and outcome for such an assignment than does a traditional …

The Impact Of Closed Captioning And Student Lexile Reading Levels, Jim L. Pruitt

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This experimental mixed-methods study explores what happens to student Lexile scores when they use closed captioning. The quantitative data analysis procedures involved in this experimental study consisted of utilizing two-sample t-tests to compare the iReady Lexile scores of the participants [n=38] to that of the researched district students [n=810] that were not using closed captioning in this study. The researcher required participants to complete a baseline iReady test to determine their preexisting Lexile levels. Then after the study, participants both in the researched district and in the study, itself were required to complete an iReady post-test to determine their …

Where Does The Buck Stop? A Framework Analysis Of Systematic Barriers And Supports To Effective Literacy Instructional Practices, Jennifer Barrett-Tatum, Courtney Shimek, Jennifer Manak, Chelsey M. Bahlmann Bollinger, Debra K. Wellman

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Many claim that elementary school teachers fail to teach children to adequately read, but few ask teachers why this problem persists. This study illuminates the voices of the teachers as they shared their perceptions of which factors supported or hindered their best practices in literacy instruction. Forty-four elementary school teachers across the United States responded to an open-ended questionnaire detailing the people, structures, political, and fiscal supports and barriers to what they perceived as a comprehensive approach to literacy instruction. Using diagnostic and prognostic frames to structure teachers' responses, findings from this study provide direct implications for administration at the …

Relational Leadership: Reconceptualizing How School Districts Address Teacher Attrition, Nila J. Burt, Joseph R. Jones

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

American education is in crisis. Teacher attrition rates are astronomical and continue to rise post-pandemic. In his executive summary, Pelfrey (2020), a policy and research analyst in the Georgia governor's office, revealed that new teachers are abandoning their careers at steadily increasing rates within the first five years of service. As such, we must further examine teacher retention and the influence of school administrators. In this capacity, this study utilized a qualitative methodology to examine teacher attrition in a high school in Georgia. Specifically, narrative inquiry provided the framework to examine the lived experiences of teachers in this southern school. …

How School Leaders Can Directly Support School And Classroom Conditions To Improve Student Outcomes, Goldy Brown Iii

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

There is a dearth of research on how school leaders can directly affect classroom and school conditions that lead to increased student outcomes. This study presents a descriptive single case study on a school leader and identifies supports they provided to improve classroom and school conditions, which may have led to the increased student outcomes they saw over a seven-year period. Qualitative methods were used. Data were collected through interviews and document analysis. This study is unique in that it collects and examines data through the Perspectives on Learning Environment Framework discussed in Bransford et al.’s book How People Learn …

Curriculum, Instruction, And Leadership As A Practice Of Reflexivity In World Language Education: A Systematic Review Of Literature, Jerry L. Parker

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This article presents the findings of a systemic review of research published by Robert C. Lafayette. Lafayette was a French teacher and teacher educator who worked to revolutionize the teaching of world languages through his articles, books, textbooks, grants, conference presentations, and other scholarly work. To uncover the value of his work in today’s language schooling, this study examined 17 of his articles and book chapters. Using content analysis methodology, the findings of this study concluded that his work contributed mainly to our understanding of curriculum, instruction, and leadership in world language education. His scholarship also provides world language teachers, …

An Analysis Of The Role Of Collaboration And Change In School Development, Daniel Farley, Jerry Johnson, Shane C. Shope

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This retrospective case study captured the experiences and extrapolated insights from a school administrator tasked with developing a new school and program to meet the needs of a specialized student population. The resulting merged school, Day Academy, served a student population ranging from 20 to 25 students and a staff of 10-15. Attentive to the relevant literature, the case study results support recommendations for both professional practice and professional learning for administrators in all levels.

An Assessment Of Students’ Enrolment Rate In University Of Ilorin, Nigeria From 2019-2021: Implications For Management, Yusuf Suleiman, Salami Tunde Adeniyi, Obalasiki Kamal, Lawal Saheed Oluwaseun, Oladejo Misbau Abiodun

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Enrolment at all levels of education is regarded as one of the indices of measuring the growth and development of education system. It is against this backdrop that the study assesses the enrolments of students in the University of Ilorin and its implications for the management. In order to get data for the study, annual report of the university from 2019-2021 were used to provide answers to the two research questions that were formulated to guide the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive method of analysis. The findings of the study revealed that females were more enrolled than males …

A Comparison Of Principal And School Counselor Self-Efficacy During The Pandemic: Lessons To Be Learned, Tara Hornor, Lee A. Westberry

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine principal and school counselors’ experiences transitioning to virtual counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic, the factors influencing their sense of confidence, and successes and challenges associated with the transition to virtual educational environments. Study participants characterized the transition to virtual leadership and counseling as challenging and reported decreased self-efficacy levels. Participants identified three common salient categories of challenges associated with the transition to virtual work, including difficulty maintaining accountability, decreased work/life balance, and learning new technology. Principals reported experiencing more support and successes resulting from the transition to virtual leadership than school …

Lessons From Health, Health Care, And Health Disparities Among Latinx Populations Scientific Panel, In New York City-2021, Andres Valcarel, Maria-Isabel Roldós, Judith Aponte

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

On September 28, 2021, the City University of New York- CUNY’s Institute for Health Equity (CIHE) hosted the online panel: Health, Health Care, and Health Disparities Among Latinx Population as part of the Speaker Series for Hispanic Heritage Month. The panel was conformed of four experts representing scientists, managers, and future researchers from the biomedical field. Participants were CUNY students, faculty, and individuals from the broader NYC community affiliated with CUNY college campuses. The panelists represented different professional roles, fields, and interests. The common denominator among them was their personal and professional commitment to serving Latinx populations. The main discussion …

Two Sides To Every Story: Dual Experiences Of Work-Family Integration While Remote Teaching During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sophie Gullett, Nancy L. Leech, Carolyn A. Haug

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

The current study explores the experience of integrating work and family responsibilities while teaching remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Six hundred and sixty-one teachers with active teaching licenses responded to the survey about their experience of teaching remotely during the spring of 2020. Results indicate that there were two main experiences: while some teachers had a better balance between work and home life, others struggled more. Female teachers also reported lower quality of life and more negative experiences than male teachers. Additional supports are needed to help teachers balance home and work life, specifically related to managing childcare while teaching.

Examining Perceptions Of Good Leadership In Confucian Contexts: A Study Of South Korean University Faculty, Andrew Schenck

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Cultural values impact conceptions of good leadership, explaining why some Western-oriented leadership strategies appear to fail in Confucian contexts. To better understand how cultural values influence the process of leadership, the Vannsimpco Leadership survey was given to 291 Korean faculty members at a university in South Korea, along with 168 faculty members from an American university who served as a comparison group. Following the collection of 95 surveys (48 from Korean faculty and 47 from American faculty), factor analysis was used to evaluate respondents’ perceptions of leadership. Results suggested that Confucian values do indeed influence conceptions of leadership. As for …

Leadership Characteristics Of Senior Student Affairs Officers (Ssao): An Analysis Of Gender, Professional Preparation, And Experiences, Johnny A. Robinson, Ashley Tull, James C. Stoner

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This quantitative study sought to closely examine the leadership behaviors of Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAO) at four-year colleges and universities, which previous research had been limited. The researchers examined three forms of leadership (transformational, transactional, and laisse-fare) measured by the Multi-Factor Leadership Questionnaire while comparing SSAO demographic factors including gender, institutional type, educational level, experience and what (if any) relationships could be concluded. Surveys were sent to 3,361 individuals identified as Senior Student Affairs Officers, which yielded 494 responses. Some significant differences were found for study variables and other notable differences were consistent with what has been found previous …

The Role Of A School Principal's Practice Of Resource Allocation And Its Relationship With A School’S Culture Of Collaboration, Annette Perez

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This article presents the findings that investigated the relationship between a principal's practice in resource allocation and how it promotes a school’s collaborative culture.

Participants of the study were New York City (NYC) Department of Education (DOE) school principals who scored a four or above on the NYC Survey School Measures of “Effective School Leadership.” The independent variable was principal practice defined as resource allocation. The dependent variable, collaborative school culture, was defined as scoring 90% or above on the “Collaborative Teachers” measure of the NYC School Survey. The study was guided by the question: What is the relationship between …

Covid-19 Impact On Principal Self-Efficacy, Lee Westberry, Tara Hornor

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Recent educational research has focused on the Covid-19 impact on students, both educationally and emotionally. Researchers have even begun studying the impact of the pandemic on teachers with virtual instruction; however, very little research exists on the Covid-19 impact on principals. The purpose of this research is to study the impact of Covid-19 on P-12 principals. Specifically, the focus of the mixed-method study is studying the pandemic’s impact on principal self-efficacy. The study aims to answer the following research questions: 1. What impact has the Covid-19 Pandemic had on principal self-efficacy 2. Are there any unintended consequences from the pandemic …

Leadership Matters: Supporting The Mental Health Needs Of Black And Latina/O Students In A Post Covid-19 World, Larry Walker, Michelle Sullivan, Nicola Stewart-Walker

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Communities throughout the United States were devastated by the COVID-19 virus. For instance, the mortality rates are higher within Black and Latina/o communities compared to the overall United States population. The pandemic represents another problem that will contribute to anxiety disorders and depression among Black and Latina/o students. How we combat these issues is important. During the 2020-2021 school year millions of students returned to schools and some struggled to adjust because of the traumatic experiences associated with COVID-19. Students will need the support of administrators, teachers, and mental health practitioners. For this reason, this review of literature examined the …

Next-Level Leadership: Preparing Assistant Principals For Campus Leadership, Jerry R. Burkett

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

The workload of campus leaders continues to increase with new expectations for evaluation and supervision, changing legislative mandates, and mounting pressures for improved school accountability. Educational Leadership preparation programs are built on national and state standards related to principal leadership and competency. However, while principal preparation programs have focused intently on instructional leadership development for future principals, most educational leadership candidates do not immediately enter the principalship but rather start their administrative careers as assistant principals. School districts can implement a comprehensive training protocol for their emerging principals using research-based practices to ensure assistant principals have the training, coaching, and …

Applying Derailment Advice: How Educational Leaders Can Use Job Loss Lessons To Navigate The Covid-19 Crisis, Jeff Strietzel, Ryan W. Erck

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended life and work for people around the globe. This upheaval has created new challenges for those serving in or studying at higher education. College administrators have been forced to adapt, and many have used wisdom gained from past crises as proxies for the current crisis. After many months in a pandemic, however, many leaders are still searching for effective frameworks and mental models to guide their efforts. In this article, we offer the concept of derailment as a proxy for leaders in challenging times. We examined interview data from a recent in-depth study of 25 …

The Role Of The School District In High-Performance Title One Schools In South Texas, George Padilla, Roberto Zamora, Federico Guerra Jr.

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

A mixed research study was designed and conducted to identify effective characteristics of high-performing, high-poverty schools. Four South Texas Title 1 schools identified as High Performing Schools by the Texas Education Agency in 2016 were selected for the study. To be selected, these schools were also required to meet or exceed a set of criteria applied by the researchers. An effective school model, comprised of eleven characteristics and school processes, was developed based on a synthesis of effective school research and served as the theoretical framework for the study. The characteristics include Culture, Leadership, Instruction, Improvement, Home and Community Relations, …

James Doti And The 25 Year Transformation Of A West Coast University: A Case Study, Adejoke Kassim, Jim Zabloski

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Research was conducted at Chapman University, Orange County, California, to explore the transformational leadership practices of Dr. James Doti, professor of Economics and president emeritus of Chapman University from 1991-2016, who led its transformation from a sleepy liberal arts college in Southern California to a midsized university of national stature. The theoretical framework for the study was the transformational leadership theory by Burns (1978) and Bass (1985). This study investigated the president’s demonstration of the four components of transformational leadership as identified by Bass: Idealized Influence, Inspirational Motivation, Intellectual Stimulation, and Individual Consideration. Data collection was via interviews, document analysis, …

The Need For More Educational Leadership Pedagogical Knowledge In Early Elementary, Megan Hallissey

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This exploratory, qualitative multiple-site case study examined how principals’ knowledge of early childhood learning, pedagogy, and practices (or lack of) influences their leadership decisions and assessment of teachers. Data collection included four different elementary school configurations and consisted of multiple data sources including the use of a video simulation. The twelve guidelines of Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP) and the Professional Standards of Educational Leaders (PSEL) provided a framework for thematic analysis. The results of this study show principals have a limited understanding of early childhood pedagogy which influences their hiring decisions when filling teacher vacancies. Additionally, results indicate principals’ assessments …

Leadership Performance Of Dale Carnegie, Nelson Mandela And Lee Kwan Yew: Applications For Educators, Jean-Pierre Bongila

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

A biographical comparison or prosopography of three leaders Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) (Bacila, 2013), Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) (Kendall, 2014), and Lee Kwan Yew (1923-2015) (Kwang et al., 2015) might seem postmodern because of the divergence of times and cultures where they lived and the social statuses from which they performed their leadership. While Dale Carnegie was born to a poor farming family in Maryville, Missouri at the end of the 19th century America, Nelson Mandela’s family had aristocratic origins since his great-grand father was a tribal chief in South Africa (Lodge, 2006), and Lee Kwan Yew was a well to do …

The Rising Tide Of Child Poverty, Jane Beese, Melissa Mlakar

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Poverty is not a new struggle for families and students. Urban school districts have been plagued with high poverty rates for years, but now poverty is growing at substantial rates in suburban schools. Chronic absenteeism is one recurring problem that high poverty schools, of every typology, face on a regular basis. The case study presented here highlights the work of one urban principal in combating chronic absenteeism in her school. The purpose of this paper is to explore attendance problems in a high-poverty school. While this case study depicts a principal in a high-poverty school in an urban area, the …

The Leadership Of The Marginalized: A Literature Review, Bertrand Tchoumi

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This article presents a comprehensive literature review of relevant literature examining the position of minority school leaders on the educational landscape. The point of departure is the underrepresentation and invisibility of Black immigrants in school leadership. The review examines the advocacy discourse addressing the minority leadership gap and advocating for their equitable representation in school leadership. The literature that discusses how minority leaders interpret their roles and purposes as well as the meaning they assign to them was also reviewed. The review then moves into the written discourse about the professional boundaries that minority educators cross to become school leaders …

Why Principals Hire Recent Graduates From A Teacher Preparation Program, Laurie James, Joy Mahaiko, Jonathan Schwartz

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Principals want to hire the most qualified teacher when positions are open at their schools. Oftentimes a preservice teacher, who recently earned their teaching certificate is their first choice. The purpose of this research was to look at the satisfaction level of elementary, middle-level, and high school principals who hired graduates from a local teacher preparation program at a nationally accredited 4-year baccalaureate-granting university in Leeward O‘ahu. The methodology utilized in the study includes four individual face-to-face interviews. Questions were asked to determine 1) desired qualities principals look for when hiring a new teacher and 2) what a local teacher …

Pass Or Fail: Recent Graduates Sound Off On The Edtpa, Darryn Diuguid, Karee Nasser

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Many states now require education students to pass the edTPA, a national performance assessment created by Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning and Equity (SCALE) and scored by Pearson Education Services, before becoming licensed to teach. One key component of the edTPA is the desire for the assessment to become an educative tool for candidates (SCALE, 2015). For this study, a survey instrument was completed by 148 new graduates to gather their perceptions of this unique assessment. Results suggest that students were able to plan instructional supports, link learners’ prior learning to new learning, and provide more thorough feedback to students. …

Increased Ambiguity And Resistance While New College Leaders Learn Their Roles, Christopher A. Gearin, Brian Dunican, John Castles

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This article explores tolerance of ambiguity and its effect on change resistance from the perception of new higher education presidents who often feel overwhelmed by the level of perceived resistance while they learn a new environment. Two separate yet complementary studies were compared for resistance to change: one qualitative and one quantitative. The qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to explore a new higher education leaders’ perspective of facing resistance during the change process. The quantitative study examined the 36-question survey results of individual higher education employees affected by higher education change. The intersection of the two studies explored, through …