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How Do District Level And Building Level Leaders Collaborate To Implement Mandated Change?, Gwendolyn Zimmermann

Dissertations

This research study examined how school leaders, in particular the associate superintendent of curriculum and a junior high school principal, in the same district collaborated to plan for and implement mandated change. In this research study, the mandated change was that of the State's adoption of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

This study utilized a case study methodology. The case study included one case of an associate superintendent of curriculum for the district and a junior high school principal located in suburban Cook County bounded within the timeframe of August 2012 to October 2013. The district identified had …

An Exploratory Multiple Case Study Of Succession Planning For Higher Education Community Engagement Practitioners In Selected Higher Education Institutions In Thesoutheastern Region Of The United States, Heidi Louisy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Succession planning is a relatively new construct within higher education institutions (HEIs). The researcher explored the extent to which selected HEIs employ succession planning strategies in reference to the Higher Education Community Engagement Practitioner (HECEP) role and in support of HEIs earning the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification (CCEC). Four HEIs served as study sites for this research, along with a nationally recognized professional development program. Study results revealed that HEIs are not currently using succession planning strategies for the HECEP role. Further, although the study revealed that professional development opportunities for HECEPs exist, only 50% of institutional study participants were …

An Exploratory Case Study Examining Transformational Leadership And Organizational Change Within The Presidency Of A Small, Four-Year University, Daniel Matthew Filer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As both internal and external threats continue to arise and challenge the traditional mold of higher education, the role of the university president is becoming more and more important. The position is being required to serve in an ever-growing number of capacities in addition to steering the direction of the institution. The purpose of the research study was to examine how presidents at a small, public four-year institution of higher education respond to organizational change. More specifically, my study attempted to discover if transformational leadership is present within the presidency during this era of great change that is affecting colleges …

The Social Intelligence Of Principals: Links To Teachers' Continuous Improvement, Joan Mcquade

Educational Studies Dissertations

Despite multiple efforts to reform 21st education to better meet the needs of all students, school improvement successes have been sporadic and debatable. Research suggests that significant improvement lies within the purview of teachers and principals, and this current research provided the underpinnings for the study. Based on neuroscience research and the continuous improvement concept, I examined linkages between principals' social intelligence and teachers' continuous improvement. Using a mixed method sequential explanatory research approach, the study consisted of four phases that employed both quantitative and qualitative measures. Massachusetts' principals (127) and teachers (331) were contacted by email to participate in …

Positive Workplace Dynamics: A Qualitative Exploration Of Exceptional Performance In Community College Units, R. Michael Stapleton

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

In this companion dissertation findings are reported of applied case study research on four community college organizational units that consistently meet or exceed standard performance measures. Ample prior evidence confirmed that performance extended significantly beyond what might be explained by available tangible resources alone. The case study contexts are common in higher education in general: a) an external partnership, (b) an ad hoc team, (c) a traditional, cross-divisional service unit, and (d) a grant-funded student service unit.

Emerging positive organizational theory and research shows promise for revealing performance-influencing phenomena and behaviors that are not adequately represented in standard measures. Therefore, …

A New Look At Distributive Leadership In Title I And Non-Title I Schools: Does Distributive Leadership Impact Student Achievement And School Culture?, Keietta Latraill Givens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there is a difference in how leadership is distributed in Title I and Non-Title I schools and to examine the relationship between distributive leadership and student achievement in Title I and Non- Title I schools. Additionally, the study investigated the relationship between distributive leadership and school culture in Title I and Non-Title I schools. Finally, this study determined if the relationship between distributed leadership, school culture, and student achievement is moderated by Title I status. This study was significant in the realm of education as it explored distributive leadership, its …

Unlocking Students' Perspectives Of Leadership, Jonathan Damiani

Teaching and Leadership - Dissertations

The need for principals to have the time and tools to focus on instruction and student learning has continued to intensify. At the same time, the incongruence between what principals want to do instructionally and have time to do, creates dire consequences for school leaders and their work in making a difference in schools regarding staff and student improvement.

This study examines whether and how principals take their lead from students, and use student voice, to create more responsive schools, and more responsible models of leadership. In order to describe and explain whether and how principals have used students' perspectives …

Leading Transformational Change In A Large Urban School District, Leslie Jean Brinks

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This abstract reflects the findings of the understanding of the skills necessary to lead transformative change in a non-affluent neighborhood in a large urban district. Current research and understandings of transformative leadership has been limited to traits and organizational concepts rather than the work associated with transforming schools. Studies seldom addressed if leaders even valued the actions central to transformative work or if they have the capacity and expertise to do the task. The purpose of this study was to understand the kinds of knowledge, skills, and dispositions that support what is viewed as transformative leading. Additionally the inquiry probed …

Factors Affecting Peer Tutoring Programs In Higher Education As Perceived By Administrators, Debbi J. Pariser

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined a) institutional factors that administrators see as facilitating peer tutoring programs and b) institutional factors that administrators see as forming barriers to peer tutoring programs. In addition, a comparison was made of administrators' perceptions based on the following institutional demographic factors: department affiliation, enrollment, highest degree awarded, and Carnegie classification. The data were collected through an electronic survey instrument, Administrative and Faculty Factors that Contribute to the Institutionalization of Peer Tutoring in Higher Education, developed specifically for this study and based on the work of Dr. Anthony Pina (2005, 2008a, 2008b), who studied the institutionalization of distance …

Leadership Practice In Elementary School Dual Language Programs: A Collective Case Study, Joanie K. Monroy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Research in effective programming for English language learners has demonstrated the efficacy of dual language education as a model for closing persistent achievement gaps for this growing population of students. With goals of high academic achievement, linguistic proficiency in two languages, and cross-cultural proficiency, dual language education is an enrichment model of education that eschews the deficit thinking often associated with language-minority students. Based on the promise of enriched education for all participants, the number of dual language programs is increasing nationwide. As districts across the United States plan for the implementation of dual language programs, identifying effective leadership practices …

Identifying Patterns In The Crucial Educational Leadership Constructs Used By The Most Cited Authors And Published Works Of 1990-2010, Sitalaiti Lotulelei

Theses and Dissertations

This study conducted a bibliometric analysis for the purpose of identifying the crucial leadership constructs that best explain and/or define effective educational leadership in two decades (1990-2000 and 2001-2010). The study reviewed top authors in educational leadership and analyzed their top cited works to identify leadership constructs which were (a) unique to leadership works within the 1990-2000 decade, (b) unique to the 2001-2010 decade, and c) similar or different between the two decades. The study found that the leadership constructs did evolve and shift during the study period and addressed the changing demands of individuals, educational organizations, and the external …

An Examination Of Talent Management Strategies For A Large Investor-Owned Utility Company: Facing The Market Pressures Of The 21st Century, Jeffrey Thrift

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study focuses on the talent management strategies being administered by a large investor-owned utility company based out of Southern California. Talent management is linked to a host of activities involving planning for key leadership transitions within an organization. Talent is the force that drives business success and brings value to an organization. This study examines the workforce challenges facing this large investor-owned utility company, to determine how talent management strategies are being developed and deployed, in the wake of new market forces, shifting demographics, and the anticipated loss of institutional knowledge from the baby-boomer generation, the largest segment …

A Study Of The Louisiana Community And Technical College System's Leadership Development Institute And The Impact Of Participation, Peggy Leonard Hohensee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Begun in 2001, the Leadership Development Institute (LDI) was created by the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) as a means of improving the leadership abilities of faculty, staff, and administrative personnel throughout the system, a “grow your own” leadership program (Leadership Development, 2006). LDI has evolved into a nine-month program of presentations, lectures, mentoring, self-exploration activities, and internships. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine the impact of participation in LDI on the career and educational goals of former cohort members. Phase One of this research project, the qualitative portion of the study, was composed …

Perception Of Leadership Issues Involved In The Implementation Of Total Quality Management By Leaders Of Business And Academe In Saudi Arabia, Ali Aljodea

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The importance of implementing quality management in education and industry is of growing importance in today's world. There is a growing concern in Saudi Arabia with quality and only a few institutions have begun to implement TQM. This study examined two of the major institutions in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), and King Saud University (KSU), where TQM principles had been implemented. The study sought to determine the perceptions of upper and middle managers of the two institutions concerning the implementation of TQM and the factors related to those perceptions.;Little has been done in Saudi Arabia to compare …

Novice Principals’ Perceptions Of Effective Leadership Practices And Their Principal Preparation Programs, Melissa Y. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine novice principals’ perceptions of effective leadership practices and the elements of their principal preparation program that prepared them for the role of school leader. A mixed-methods study was utilized by the researcher to gather quantitative data through the use of an online survey and to gather qualitative data through subsequent focus-group interviews to address the proposal’s three research questions: (a) What are the differences (if any) between the perceptions of novice elementary, middle, and high school principals regarding the five instructional leadership practices identified by Kouzes and Posner (2003; i.e., challenging the …

Explanatory Style And Innovativeness: Use Of Web 2.0 Tools In Education, Michelle Rogers-Estable

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

People may have either a more positive or more negative explanatory style, and their explanatory style consequently leads to behavior choices. Explanatory style may be a primary intrinsic factor underlying optimistic or pessimistic attitudes that directly affect technology adoption by faculty. Research has already found some links among optimism, positive attitudes, and technology adoption. This dissertation therefore analyzed the relationship between explanatory style and individual innovativeness among higher education faculty as measured by the use of emerging Web 2.0 technologies in higher education with the intent to better understand how optimism and pessimism affect choices to use technology in education. …

An Ethnographic Case Study Of Elementary Principal Leadership Strategies And The No Child Left Behind Act, Cassandra J. Poole

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Leadership is regarded as the key to comprehensive school improvement efforts and the principal is expected to lead the charge/change. Book knowledge is good, but the difference between effective and less effective principals is not what they know but what they actually do. What do principals do to meet AYP? Young (2004) pointed out that some principals recognize they can gain the edge and survive by learning from other effective practitioners. NCLB and AYP demand change to meet the mandates that will bring about improvement in student achievement. NCLB has changed the educational landscape. Numerous articles and literature exists on …

Comparative, Holistic, Multi-Case Study Of The Implementation Of The Strategic Thinking Protocolã And Traditional Strategic Planning Processes At A Southeastern University, Deborah J. Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

This study explores the strategic thinking and strategic planning efforts in a department, college and university in the southeastern United States. The goal of the study was to identify elements of strategic planning processes that meet the unique organizational features and complexities of a higher education institution. The study employed a holistic, multi-case study approach, wherein three single case studies were conducted with one unit of analysis. The findings in each case were then compared and contrasted to provide more evidence and confidence in the findings. The findings are framed by two constructs : strategic planning and strategic thinking. The …

Comparing Turnaround Leadership In A Rural Church And In Schools., Ronald Brent Mays 1969-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study sought to illuminate successful practices of a turnaround leader in a rural church that are applicable cross-contextually, so as to inform the leadership efforts of various organizations seeking to reproduce organizational renewal on a wide-scale basis. Utilizing the principles of case study research, the researcher conducted participant observations, mined documents, and interviewed the pastor, three part-time staff members, and 24 members of a rural congregation in a South-central Kentucky congregation that had grown 289% in active membership over the last 14 years. Proceeding with the assumption that leaders can, by the practice of specific, intentional behaviors, positively …

Self-Directed Learning And The Impact Of Leadership: Analyzing Keys For Success From A Covenental Perspective, David Duby, Kahlib J. Fischer

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The current state of education seems to beg for visionary changes to truly impact students and prepare them for the future. Self-directed learning models purport to do just that, by preparing students to be self-motivated, lifelong learners. While many educators seek to apply self-directed practices, research reveals that there are several obstacles that can hinder self-directed learning. Duby’s 2006 study of schools employing self-directed learning investigated how leaders successfully overcome these hindrances via specific leadership attitudes and behaviors that not only effectively overcame these obstacles, but are also reflected in the covenantal perspective of leadership. Using content analysis, this paper …

Circles Of Culture And Cognition : A Sociocognitive Study Of Collaboration Within And Among Academic Groups Of Teachers In A Rural School District, Linda L. Baker

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This ethnographic case study examined the roles of district and school macro-culture and teacher sub-group micro-culture in influencing the nature and extent of teachers' professional collaboration. Informed by the sociocognitive theory that learning is rooted in social relationships and develops through interpersonal discourse and activity, the study focused on educators in a middle and high school in one small, rural district. The 41 educators who participated in the study included three administrators, 24 high school faculty members, and 17 middle school teachers. Data collection methods incorporated a general questionnaire, field notes, observations of meetings and gatherings, and extensive interviews. Most …

Including People With Disabilities In Disaster Preparedness: A Delphi Study, Michael Anthony Castañeda

Theses and Dissertations

Recent disasters demonstrate that the needs of people with disabilities are not being met when disaster strikes. At the root of the problem is a widespread failure to include people with disabilities in preparing for emergencies before they occur. This study used a 2-round Delphi methodology with a panel of experts, consisting of people with disabilities and key players in emergency planning and response. The study instrument consisted of questionnaires containing items presented in Likert, yes-no, and open-ended formats. The goal of the study was to reach consensus on a way for people with disabilities and emergency planners to address …

Storytelling Strategies For Leading Change In University Prestige, Matthew T. Paden

Theses and Dissertations

Universities across the United States desire to enhance their level of institutional prestige in order to recruit top students, hire outstanding faculty members, and increase financial support. The purpose of this study is to discover storytelling strategies for leading change in university prestige. This qualitative study utilized the Dynamic Narrative Approach in conducting interviews to collect data from university leaders whose titles included president, provost-vice president, and academic dean. The interview instrument consisted of semistructured questions, was reviewed for validity by a panel of experts, and was administered through the use of technology. A review and synthesis of the literature …

Leading A Successful Change Effort At The School Level, Sindy Samantha Shell

Theses and Dissertations

Schools that have implemented professional learning communities (PLCs) have been experiencing the initial intention of professional learning communities, however, the essence of shared leadership, using collaboration as a problem solving component, and data-driven decision making is not in fact what is taking place in schools. The term "PLC" has become an overused and often detrimental label. This observed outcome could be attributed to how the professional learning community is implemented in the school. In order to have the change be effective, the new endeavor must be anchored in the culture. In fact, it has been observed that missing component in …

An Exploration Of The Accreditation Self-Study Process From The Perspectives Of Organizational Effectiveness, Troy Lee Roland

Theses and Dissertations

A total of 22 sanctions were issued in 2009 for noncompliance of the accreditation standards by the Junior College Division of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The most common reason for these sanctions is not conducting program reviews. Another major cause is for not integrating organizational planning or using assessment results, and not correcting institutional deficiencies with governing boards. Yet, despite these warnings, many institutions continue to receive such sanctions. Models for organizational effectiveness could help institutions of higher education prepare for and become compliant with accreditation standards. This case study involved the development of an assessment …

School Transformation: Reproducing Effective High School Leadership, Christina D. Chambers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the distinctive and complex challenges that high school principals face. The demand to prepare students for college or the workplace requires a strong foundation built on relational trust, an adaptation of high school instructional practices, and an evolution of the professional development process. This study will use the characteristics of transformational leadership presented in the literature to determine if they exist in two high schools and how they manifest themselves. The high schools studied represent the very different socio economic aspects of their district. With focus on student achievement, high school principals and teachers can transform school …

Adaptability Of Academic Advising Teams In Higher Education, Leigh A. Mcfarland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The purpose of this single site case study was to identify how four advising teams in a medium-sized public university adapt to the changes presented to them and what role leadership and culture play in that adaptation. This was accomplished through analysis of advisor and administrator interviews, office and meeting observations, and reviews of documents relating to advising and university changes in curriculum and systems. The study was guided by team culture and the five core adaptation strategies described by Eckel and Kezar (2003). The study indicates that although part of the same institution, each advising team has a unique …

Multi-Site Case Study Of A Professional Learning Community Model: The Impact Of Learning Team Meetings On Teacher Practice And Student Achievement From The Perspective Of Teachers And Instructional Leaders, Ora. Meles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the implementation of a structured professional learning community model referred to as Learning Team Meetings (LTMs) on teacher practice and student achievement from the perspective of teachers and instructional leaders at high-need schools. To accomplish this purpose, a multi-site case study was conducted at three school sites (an elementary, middle, and high school) all within the same region of one of the largest urban school districts in South Florida. Qualitative research methods, including one-on-one observations, interviews, focus groups, and review of documents were utilized to analyze, contrast, and compare …

An Examination Of Succession Management In Organizations During Times Of Economic Crisis, Jacqueline S. Fairney

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study focused on the succession management actions taken internally by organizations during times of economic crisis. This study's purpose was to understand the specific ways that organizations alter or suspend their succession management efforts during "hard times" when other short-term crises, such as restructuring, lay-offs, and debt accumulation, overshadow the importance of long-term strategic planning. Three research questions were addressed in this study: 1. Are succession management programs subject to decrease or downsizing during times of economic crisis? 2. What can organizations do to keep short-term crises from derailing long-term succession-management efforts? 3. Are well established succession management …

Leadership Standards: Professional Development Schools Versus Non-Professional Development Schools, David L. Lancaster

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study compares the perceptions of two groups of West Virginia school principals through a survey instrument built in alignment with the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards. The perceptions of principals affiliated with Professional Development Schools (PDS) are compared to the perceptions of principals who are not affiliated with Professional Development Schools (non-PDS). The 587 principals in the state of West Virginia with active e-mail addresses were asked to participate in an online survey. The survey instrument contained six domains with 31 items aligned with the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium's (ISLLC) six national standards on leadership. Two …