Behaviors of Outstanding First Year Principals and Their Alignment with ISLLC Standards Karla ...

128 Pages·2014·0.64 MB·English

Behaviors of Outstanding First Year Principals and Their Alignment with ISLLC Standards

Karla Loraine Hogan

Dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Doctor of Education
In
Education Leadership and Policy Studies

Walter D. Mallory, Chair
Carol S. Cash
William J. Glenn
Kelly L. Sheers

November 12, 2013
Falls Church, Virginia
Behaviors of Outstanding First Year Principals and Their Alignment with ISLLC Standards

Karla Loraine Hogan

ABSTRACT

The leadership of the principal is directly tied to the success or demise of a school.
Principals assume various leadership roles including those of educational leader, decision maker,
visionary for change, supervisor of faculty and staff, and communicator with various
stakeholders. This study investigates the alignment between the Interstate School Leaders
Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards and the successful strategies of outstanding first year
principals as well as the behaviors and skills various stakeholders identify as crucial to the first
year principal’s success. The topic of outstanding first year principals is important for two
reasons. First, strong leadership results in effective schools. Second, understanding the elements
of outstanding leadership can have implications regarding the preparation of first year principals
in educational leadership programs.
This qualitative case study examined five award-winning principals during the period
from 2006 to 2010. The primary sources of data included interviews with each principal,
interviews with a select focus group, and a content analysis of the nominating packet contents.
The results indicate that the principals had a command of the ISLLC standards, were especially
skilled with relationships, removed the need for self- recognition and possessed the trait of
withitness. The results of this study provide school districts, school leadership teams, and
administrative programs the opportunity to engage in an active dialogue around those areas
which can be challenging and more difficult to teach (relationship building, withitness, and
removal of self). The study results suggest that principal preparation programs and
administrative programs need to include a more active dialogue about these three elements
because of the crucial part they play in establishing strong and effective leaders. Attention to
these areas will result in more well-rounded principals who can meet the demands and needs of
all stakeholders, stimulate student achievement, and promote school success.
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DEDICATION
I dedicate this dissertation to all family, friends, and colleagues who helped me through
the ups and downs and kept reminding me that I could do it.
To Jeannette Langford who re-arranged her life to help me out with mine so I could
finish.
To my mother Ernestine Butler whose support was unwavering throughout the entire
process. Thank you for being there for me.
To my husband Earnest Hogan no amount of words will ever be enough. You are my
best friend and my biggest cheerleader. Your love, support, and encouragement helped me every
step of the way.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express a sincere thank you to the members of my committee for their
support through this entire process. To Dr. Mallory, my chair, who was instrumental in keeping
me focused and driven to finish. When I began this journey I had no idea how challenging it
would be to find the determination and drive to complete this endeavor. To Dr. Glenn, whose
insightful comments and keen eye for precision and accuracy were there from my first class to
my final defense. To Dr. Cash who brought a principal’s perspective that was needed to clearly
answer my research questions. To Dr. Sheers whose honest feedback and direct questions helped
me to see the bigger picture.
I would also like to thank all my friends, family, and colleagues who continually pushed
me along through a process that I thought I would never see to the end.
I would also like to thank the five principals in this study who gave of their time to talk
honestly and openly as they faced their job as a first year principal. Their answers continue to
give me much to think about as I see leadership evolve and change in our nation’s schools.
To my family whose love of knowledge and expectation for academic success were the
foundation of my educational career.
I would also like to thank my father, Benjamin W. Butler M.D. whose words
continuously rang in my head night after night: “whatever you begin you will finish.”
A final thank you to Earnest, EJ, and Ethan who always kept a smile on my face.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT…… ....................................................................................................................... ii
DEDICATION.. ........................................................................................................................ iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.........................................................................................................v
LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................x
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................1
Statement of the Problem....................................................................................................1
Background of the Problem ................................................................................................1
Research Questions ............................................................................................................2
Methodology ......................................................................................................................3
Limitations and Assumptions .............................................................................................3
Significance of the Study ....................................................................................................4
Definitions….. ....................................................................................................................5
Overview of the Dissertation ..............................................................................................6
CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ........................................................................7
Overview of the Role of Today’s Principal .........................................................................7
The Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards ...........................8
Do the Standards Make a Difference? ............................................................................... 13
Leadership of the Principal ............................................................................................... 15
Benefits of Strong Leadership........................................................................................... 16
Current Trends and Challenges for Today’s Principal ....................................................... 20
Instructional Leader ................................................................................................. 20
Crisis Manager......................................................................................................... 21
Relationship Builder ................................................................................................ 22
Supervisor of Accountability.................................................................................... 22
Professional Standards ............................................................................................. 24
Leading as a First-year Principal ....................................................................................... 24
Visionary ................................................................................................................. 25
Learning Leader ....................................................................................................... 25

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Relationship Builder ................................................................................................ 27
Summary…. ..................................................................................................................... 29
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................. 32
Research Questions .......................................................................................................... 32
Research Design and Rationale ......................................................................................... 33
Components of Qualitative Research ................................................................................ 33
Research Procedures ......................................................................................................... 35
The Setting .............................................................................................................. 35
Participant Selection Process.................................................................................... 36
Informed Consent and Confidentiality...................................................................... 36
Data Collection Procedures .............................................................................................. 38
Data Analysis Procedures ................................................................................................. 39
Coding of Interview Transcripts ............................................................................... 39
Analysis of Nomination Material and Other Relevant Information ........................... 40
Reliability and Validity ............................................................................................ 40
Summary….. .................................................................................................................... 41
CHAPTER 4 FINDINGS .......................................................................................................... 43
Principal #1-Mark Collins ................................................................................................ 44
Standard 1 ................................................................................................................ 44
Standard 2 ................................................................................................................ 45
Standard 3 ................................................................................................................ 46
Standard 4 ................................................................................................................ 47
Standard 5 ................................................................................................................ 48
Standard 6 ................................................................................................................ 49
Principal #2-Nancy Kraft .................................................................................................. 50
Standard 1 ................................................................................................................ 52
Standard 2 ................................................................................................................ 54
Standard 3 ................................................................................................................ 56
Standard 4 ................................................................................................................ 57
Standard 5 ................................................................................................................ 58
Standard 6 ................................................................................................................ 59
Principal #3-Bob Blake .................................................................................................... 60
Standard 1 ................................................................................................................ 61
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Standard 2 ................................................................................................................ 62
Standard 3 ................................................................................................................ 63
Standard 4 ................................................................................................................ 65
Standard 5 ................................................................................................................ 66
Standard 6 ................................................................................................................ 68
Principal #4 John King ..................................................................................................... 69
Standard 1 ................................................................................................................ 70
Standard 2 ................................................................................................................ 71
Standard 3 ................................................................................................................ 72
Standard 4 ................................................................................................................ 73
Standard 5 ................................................................................................................ 74
Standard 6 ................................................................................................................ 76
Principal #5 Carla Kyle .................................................................................................... 77
Standard 1 ................................................................................................................ 78
Standard 2 ................................................................................................................ 79
Standard 3 ................................................................................................................ 80
Standard 4 ................................................................................................................ 81
Standard 5 ................................................................................................................ 82
Standard 6 ................................................................................................................ 83
Summary… ...................................................................................................................... 83
CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 85
Findings Related to Literature........................................................................................... 85
The Six Standards in Daily Practice .................................................................................. 88
Three Emerging Themes................................................................................................... 92
First Theme: Success with Relationships.................................................................. 92
Second Theme: Spotlight on Others ......................................................................... 94
Third Theme: “Withitness”....................................................................................... 95
Implications for Practice ................................................................................................... 97
Suggestions for Further Research ..................................................................................... 98
Personal Reflections/Final Thoughts ................................................................................. 99
REFERENCES… ................................................................................................................... 101

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APPENDICES… .................................................................................................................... 106
Appendix A Virginia Tech IRB Approval Letter ............................................................ 107
Appendix B School District Approval Letter .................................................................. 108
Appendix C Introductory Letter to Principals ................................................................. 110
Appendix D Consent Form—Teacher Participant ........................................................... 111
Appendix E Consent Form—Parent Participant .............................................................. 114
Appendix F Interview Questions .................................................................................... 117

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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1 Summary of Major Studies 30
2 Interviewees 43
3 Summary of Principals’ Traits 84

x