A Study of the Relationship Between Superintendents' Perceived Leadership Practices and Socioeconomic Status of School Districts in New Jersey

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 284 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (433 download)

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Book Synopsis A Study of the Relationship Between Superintendents' Perceived Leadership Practices and Socioeconomic Status of School Districts in New Jersey by : Enid Bell Golden

Download or read book A Study of the Relationship Between Superintendents' Perceived Leadership Practices and Socioeconomic Status of School Districts in New Jersey written by Enid Bell Golden and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

A Qualitative Study Exploring If Superintendents Self-percieved Childhood Socioeconomic Status Influence the Practices, Policies and Goals They Establish for Students of Low Socioeconomic Status

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 164 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (11 download)

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Book Synopsis A Qualitative Study Exploring If Superintendents Self-percieved Childhood Socioeconomic Status Influence the Practices, Policies and Goals They Establish for Students of Low Socioeconomic Status by : Michael M. Piccirillo

Download or read book A Qualitative Study Exploring If Superintendents Self-percieved Childhood Socioeconomic Status Influence the Practices, Policies and Goals They Establish for Students of Low Socioeconomic Status written by Michael M. Piccirillo and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Poverty is the greatest challenge facing public school leaders today. This is not to say that poverty is a new problem, however, as the gap between rich and poor grows economically, so does the gap representing equity of outcomes between students from privilege and students from disadvantage. Today's leaders must be trained with the skills to manage the increasingly diverse demographics of their schools, however, they must also possess the leadership conviction and determination to ensure equity of access and outcomes for all the students they serve. This study poses the question, what is the origin of a leader's convictions when it comes to equity? This study provided an opportunity to explore whether a relationship exists between the self-perceived childhood socioeconomic status of public school superintendents and their attitudes, aspirations and behaviors toward students from low socioeconomic backgrounds in their districts. A qualitative research design was used and data was collected through interviews of 14 superintendents of public school districts in the Capital Region of Upstate New York. The researcher specifically focused on actions the superintendents took to improve the achievement of students from low socioeconomic background through goal setting, resource allocation and policy-making. The data was analyzed for themes in conjunction with four research questions and elicited 15 findings. The results of the research from this study support the influence of self-perceived childhood socioeconomic status on leadership actions. However, the results of the study also point to the influence of other factors in childhood such as parental expectations and adult experiences as having an impact on leadership development. Several recommendations have resulted from this study, but perhaps the most significant is the potential impact on hiring practices. When a leader's life experiences are accounted for, from childhood through adulthood, school districts can better determine if this leader is the best match for the organization. It is recommended that Boards of Education and hiring committees develop questions to elicit greater depth in responses from candidates regarding experiences that have shaped their attitudes, aspirations and beliefs toward the achievement of all of their students. The issue of equity of outcomes cannot be addressed without leaders who truly believe all students can learn.

Dissertation Abstracts International

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 672 pages
Book Rating : 4.F/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Dissertation Abstracts International by :

Download or read book Dissertation Abstracts International written by and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 672 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Role of Superintendents that Engage in Systemic Change that Addresses the Inequities in Lower and Middle Socioeconomic Districts

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 115 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (115 download)

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Book Synopsis The Role of Superintendents that Engage in Systemic Change that Addresses the Inequities in Lower and Middle Socioeconomic Districts by : Tamra Stephanie Collins

Download or read book The Role of Superintendents that Engage in Systemic Change that Addresses the Inequities in Lower and Middle Socioeconomic Districts written by Tamra Stephanie Collins and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 115 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Change is an intentional process and it requires system leaders to be strategic and purposeful with their actions. In order to effect systemic change within their respective districts, system leaders need to be clear about the moral imperative (Fullan, 2004) of equity work. Superintendents will need to be cognizant and empathetic of the students and communities they serve, engage in difficult conversations, understand the challenges that surface as a result of inequity, and be open to inclusion and collaboration. The researcher examined the extent district leaders can influence changing the culture of their districts to ensure equity. Additionally, the research highlighted an analysis of how district leaders’ perceived beliefs and attitudes about inequities can impact district practices and policies, as well as how system leaders’ assessment of their own culture shapes how they deal with addressing disproportions in low and middle socioeconomic school districts. While there is ample research and literature on the issues of addressing the achievement gap and culturally proficient leadership to address inequities, there is not sufficient research regarding how district leaders, superintendents in particular, engage in systemic changes that address inequities within lower and middle socioeconomic school districts. Moreover, there is little research focused on New York City Superintendents’ perceptions and influence in advancing sustainable equity work with varying socioeconomic districts. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how superintendents engage in systemic change that addresses inequities within lower and middle-class school districts in New York City. The participants targeted in this research were divided into two groups. The first group were superintendents who led districts with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, and the second group was comprised of superintendents that led middle- class districts. The research design that was employed was a qualitative study, and it was conducted using interviews, examining publicly available documents, and a review of relevant research to support the findings. The findings that emerged from this research showed that superintendents, regardless of leading districts with differing socioeconomic status, are steering systemic change that addresses the underlying issues of inequity but not in a step by step process, and not in the same way. Another finding focused on how superintendents were building the capacity of school leaders to lead equity work in their schools, while they advocated and redistributed resources to underserved communities. A third finding highlighted superintendents in middle-class districts whose perceived beliefs and attitudes reflected the need to create diversity within their district schools, while superintendents in low-socioeconomic districts perceived beliefs and attitudes referenced that their districts lacked access to resources, a lack of high-quality teaching and low expectations. Lastly, superintendents demonstrated their influence in advancing equity by setting clear goals and non-negotiables focused on closing the achievement gap.

A Study of School Board Members' and Superintendents' Perceptions of Relationships, Roles, and Responsibilities in Selected School Districts of New Jersey

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 438 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (569 download)

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Book Synopsis A Study of School Board Members' and Superintendents' Perceptions of Relationships, Roles, and Responsibilities in Selected School Districts of New Jersey by : James William Wright

Download or read book A Study of School Board Members' and Superintendents' Perceptions of Relationships, Roles, and Responsibilities in Selected School Districts of New Jersey written by James William Wright and published by . This book was released on 1977 with total page 438 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

American Doctoral Dissertations

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 848 pages
Book Rating : 4.F/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis American Doctoral Dissertations by :

Download or read book American Doctoral Dissertations written by and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 848 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

School Board Expectations of Superintendent Job Performance

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Publisher : LAP Lambert Academic Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9783659533334
Total Pages : 212 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (333 download)

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Book Synopsis School Board Expectations of Superintendent Job Performance by : Anthony Bundy

Download or read book School Board Expectations of Superintendent Job Performance written by Anthony Bundy and published by LAP Lambert Academic Publishing. This book was released on 2014-05 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this study was the examination of board president superintendent relations in the State of New Jersey. The focus of the research was to determine if significant differences existed between board president's expectations of their superintendents job performance at the time of candidacy and their perceptions of their job performance at the time of contract renewal. More specifically, the study focused on identifying key factors which positively or negatively influenced the relationship between board president's expectations at candidacy and their perceptions at contract renewal. Through the research conducted on these factors, the study sought to identify and develop decision making processes to improve the success rate of superintendent contract renewal. The population sample drew from school board presidents of those boards of education whose school districts completed(between 1999-2001)decisions on the contract renewal of their superintendents. The population also drew from board presidents of boards of education whose districts have experienced a superintendent change before the end of the three year cycle.

District Leadership That Works

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Publisher : Solution Tree Press
ISBN 13 : 1935542362
Total Pages : 297 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (355 download)

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Book Synopsis District Leadership That Works by : Robert J. Marzano

Download or read book District Leadership That Works written by Robert J. Marzano and published by Solution Tree Press. This book was released on 2009-11-01 with total page 297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bridge the great divide between distanced administrative duties and daily classroom impact. This book introduces a top-down power mechanism called defined autonomy, a concept that focuses on district-defined, nonnegotiable, common goals and a system of accountability supported by assessment tools. Defined autonomy creates an effective balance of centralized direction and individualized empowerment that allows building-level staff the stylistic freedom to respond quickly and effectively to student failure.

The Role of Superintendent's Tenure on Student Achievement in Selected School Districts in New York State

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 87 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (76 download)

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Book Synopsis The Role of Superintendent's Tenure on Student Achievement in Selected School Districts in New York State by : Lori S. Caplan

Download or read book The Role of Superintendent's Tenure on Student Achievement in Selected School Districts in New York State written by Lori S. Caplan and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 87 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between a superintendent's tenure in his/her current school district, and student achievement as determined by scores of level three and four, on the eighth grade New York State (NYS) standardized assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. Data were gathered from public records retrieved from the New York State Education (NYSED) website. The study focused on small city school districts in New York state, as defined in NYSED law as school districts that have fewer than 125,000 inhabitants, based on the latest federal census (NYSASCSD, 2010). This quantitative study explored superintendents' perceived levels of implementation of initiatives/practices, based on the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) in current school districts (Green, 2009). Lastly, the study examined the demographics of superintendents in the 57 small city school districts across New York state. Of the 57 superintendents, 39 completed a survey (69% return rate) that addressed their perception of the level of implementation of practices/initiatives in their districts as well as demographics pertaining to individual district leaders. Cronbach's alpha indicated the instrument was reliable. A summated rating scale, using factor analysis, was run to establish component analysis which yielded three components of superintendents' perceived levels of implementation of practices/initiatives in their school districts: (a) Leader Scale, (b) School and Community, and (c) Resources. A data reduction process produced a scaled version of the School Leadership Practice Survey (SLPS) as two questions loaded across the board and were extracted from the scale as the 18 other questions were used. A correlation was run using superintendent's demography as the independent variable and student achievement remained the dependent variable. Finally, regression was run for research question four using mean scores on NYS ELA and Mathematics assessments as the dependent variable, and the summated rating scales from research question two, as well as demographic information as independent variables.

Superintendent and Principal Perceptions of Superintendent Instructional Leadership Practices in Improving School Districts

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 438 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (137 download)

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Book Synopsis Superintendent and Principal Perceptions of Superintendent Instructional Leadership Practices in Improving School Districts by :

Download or read book Superintendent and Principal Perceptions of Superintendent Instructional Leadership Practices in Improving School Districts written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 438 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this study was to investigate the instructional leadership practices of a statewide sample of Arizona school superintendents. Superintendents' practices in 12 areas were analyzed in relation to the degree of district academic improvement over a three-year period, the relative size of the district, and the gender of the superintendent. Differences in principal-superintendent perceptions were also analyzed to determine the extent of these differences, and their correspondence to the level of academic improvement achieved by districts. Among superintendents that had served in the current district for at least three years, there were significant differences in their reported involvement in 2 of 12 areas. Superintendents in higher-performing districts reported being more involved in planning for instruction and developing principals as instructional leaders. While male and female superintendents reported similar instructional leadership practices, female superintendents reported being more involved in reviewing research and developing instructional policies. Male superintendents reported being more involved in developing principals as instructional leaders. Superintendents in districts of different sizes responded similarly to the survey. The one exception was in the area of supervising instruction, in which superintendents in medium-sized districts reported being less involved. There were significant differences in the views of superintendents' instructional leadership held by principals and superintendents. On the whole, principals perceived superintendents as being less involved in instructional leadership than did superintendents themselves. There were significant differences between the responses of the subjects of this study and Watts' 1992 study. Superintendents in the present study reported being significantly more involved in seven instructional leadership tasks than their 1992 counterparts. The findings from this study may be of use to superintendents as they consider the many responsibilities they face in providing leadership for their districts. These findings may also be of interest to researchers who are concerned with better understanding the instructional leadership role of the school superintendent.

A Study on the School Board Member and Superintendent Relationship and Its Perceived Impact on a School District

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 111 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (119 download)

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Book Synopsis A Study on the School Board Member and Superintendent Relationship and Its Perceived Impact on a School District by : Hani Joseph Youssef

Download or read book A Study on the School Board Member and Superintendent Relationship and Its Perceived Impact on a School District written by Hani Joseph Youssef and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 111 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this study was to gain information and knowledge regarding the perceived impact the relationship between the superintendent and school board members had on a school district. This study also explored which characteristics school board members and superintendents believe are essential to effective school board member and superintendent relationships. This quantitative study utilized survey research methods. Participants answered four demographic questions and 35 primary questions that addressed components of the research questions that frame this study. Questionnaire items were answered on a Likert-type scale that indicated the participants' level of satisfaction (items 1-25) with the school board member and superintendent relationship and level of importance (items 26-35) related to essential characteristics of effective school board member and superintendent relationships. Survey methodology was appropriate for this particular study because the aim of the study was to investigate the perceived relationship between two defined stakeholder groups, school board members and superintendents, and those groups' perceptions of how that relationship impacts educational accountability, the instructional program, leadership roles, board-superintendent conflicts, teamwork, and school-community relations. Participants were selected from the state of California database system that includes contact information for school board members and superintendents within the state. The researcher had access to participants because he secured the support from the California School Board Association (CSBA) Board of Directors. The CSBA Board of Directors allowed the researcher to use their comprehensive e-mail database to contact superintendents and school board members within the state of California. In order to keep the random sample sizes as large as possible, invitations to participate were sent to 250 superintendents and 350 school board members in the CSBA database system

An Analysis of the Relationship of Superintendent Leadership Orientation Style and District Performance Outcomes

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 368 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (13 download)

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Book Synopsis An Analysis of the Relationship of Superintendent Leadership Orientation Style and District Performance Outcomes by : Edna Yvonne Davis Kennedy

Download or read book An Analysis of the Relationship of Superintendent Leadership Orientation Style and District Performance Outcomes written by Edna Yvonne Davis Kennedy and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of the present study was to determine if a relationship existed between the perceived Leadership Orientation Styles (LOS) of Texas Public School Superintendents and district performance outcomes. Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal's Leadership Orientation Survey (1990), which defines action and behaviors into the four frames described below, was used to determine and form a contemporary profile of superintendent leadership styles. Superintendents in Texas (N=1037) were sent electronic surveys to assess perceived leadership styles of orientation. Data was collected and analyzed using the self-reporting Leadership Orientation Style Survey developed by Bolman and Deal (1990). Preliminary steps in the study included identification of a systematic approach to define and measure district performance outcomes as indicated on the Texas Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS). In order to identify district performance outcomes and quantify data as factor scores, variables from the Texas AEIS database were subjected to factor analysis. The analysis of the relationship between superintendent leadership orientation styles and district performance outcomes was reported by using canonical correlation and multiple regression interpretations. The model for Bolman and Deal's Leadership Orientation Survey (1990) views leadership from four differing frames of organizational thought: structural, human resource, political, and symbolic. Bolman and Deal (1990) describe these perspectives as a lens, or window, which frame tools of action and behavior. District performance outcomes included academic, advanced academic, and teacher characteristics to form a Valence Index of Performance (VIP) score. As educational systems and public schools become increasingly complex and reach levels of crisis proportion, superintendent must use sophisticated and creative leadership to approach today's epic demand must deal with the orientational school structure from a leadership vantage point of flexibility and multi-dimensional thought processes. Therefore, a study that reveals the style of superintendent leadership orientations can assist leaders to comprehend and address issues that arise in a school district. In conclusion, while the preset research study did not contribute to the superintendent leadership orientation style relationship to district performance outcomes many questions are still left unanswered. The demand for substantive research linking student achievement to superintendent leadership practices remains unchanged.

A Study of Perceived Job Satisfaction Among Superintendents in Affluent (DFG I & J) Public School Districts in New Jersey

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 234 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (583 download)

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Book Synopsis A Study of Perceived Job Satisfaction Among Superintendents in Affluent (DFG I & J) Public School Districts in New Jersey by : Gene M. Solomon

Download or read book A Study of Perceived Job Satisfaction Among Superintendents in Affluent (DFG I & J) Public School Districts in New Jersey written by Gene M. Solomon and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

A Survey Study to Investigate Educators' Perceptions of Superintendents' Leadership Practices and School District Performance

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 356 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (874 download)

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Book Synopsis A Survey Study to Investigate Educators' Perceptions of Superintendents' Leadership Practices and School District Performance by : Carolyn L. Hoggard-Williams

Download or read book A Survey Study to Investigate Educators' Perceptions of Superintendents' Leadership Practices and School District Performance written by Carolyn L. Hoggard-Williams and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Relationships of Superintendents' Leadership Styles, Perceived Teachers' Readiness to Implement Planned Change, and Selected Characteristics of School Districts

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 530 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (356 download)

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Book Synopsis The Relationships of Superintendents' Leadership Styles, Perceived Teachers' Readiness to Implement Planned Change, and Selected Characteristics of School Districts by : Maduakolam Ireh

Download or read book The Relationships of Superintendents' Leadership Styles, Perceived Teachers' Readiness to Implement Planned Change, and Selected Characteristics of School Districts written by Maduakolam Ireh and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 530 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Contemporary Superintendent

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Publisher : Research on the Superintendency
ISBN 13 : 9781641135245
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (352 download)

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Book Synopsis The Contemporary Superintendent by : Meredith Mountford

Download or read book The Contemporary Superintendent written by Meredith Mountford and published by Research on the Superintendency. This book was released on 2019 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How can contemporary school district administrators, specifically superintendents, contend with so many difficult, and almost impossible competing commitments? Building on the definitions of revolution, revolutionary, evolution, and evolutionary, the notion of (R)Evolutionary Leadership emerged while discussing the need for school district leaders to push back against the status quo while improving teacher and leadership practices, improving student learning outcomes, engaging with the community, and ensuring decision making processes that include check and balance systems that are just, fair, and equitable for all. The chapters in this book introduce superintendents or research on superintendents in which these tenants were practiced; both in their ability to enact radical change by "overthrowing" the status quo - as well as evolutionary in their deliberate approach to viewing change as a process they can control over time. These leaders were willing to confront and defy practices and policies that were counter to student well-being and achievement while concurrently knowing how to reach their desired results. The chapters chosen for inclusion in this volume are those that offered a glimpse of these revolutionary tenants in practice. We ask that you consider this emerging concept as you explore the chapters of our book. You will find the (R)evolutionary Leaders you meet in the chapters know how to evolve, not just to stay alive, but to ensure the organization (school) remains relevant and vital to society. These leaders use their positional power, social capital, and expertise to advocate for policies and practices that are in the best interest of the school community and they innovate in ways that challenge the status quo. You will also find practices that are (R)Evolutionary and provide ways for leaders to innovate, collaborate, and simply take care of themselves and those around them. Our description does not seek to support or define or delineate the characteristics of a (R)Evolutionary Leader or how one might enact (R)Evolutionary Leadership-but serves as a way to (re)think the way we view the vastly complex work of school district administrators, specifically the superintendent. (R)Evolutionary leadership may change our ways of thinking about the significant advocacy role a superintendent can play in influencing both practice and policy to enact the change necessary to move forward issues of justice, equity, and quality in PK-12 schools and further to improve educational and social outcomes for those served.

School Superintendents' Perceptions of the American Association of School Administrators' Professional Standards for the Superintendency, Their Relevancy to the Superintendency and Correlation to Pre-service Preparation of Superintendents

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 314 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (693 download)

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Book Synopsis School Superintendents' Perceptions of the American Association of School Administrators' Professional Standards for the Superintendency, Their Relevancy to the Superintendency and Correlation to Pre-service Preparation of Superintendents by : Dawn A. Santiago-Marullo

Download or read book School Superintendents' Perceptions of the American Association of School Administrators' Professional Standards for the Superintendency, Their Relevancy to the Superintendency and Correlation to Pre-service Preparation of Superintendents written by Dawn A. Santiago-Marullo and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Effective leadership is important at all levels of a school system. This study will focus on the school district superintendent. While the impact of this leadership position on student achievement has been cited in several studies, research on the preparation of individuals for the superintendency is minimal. The media reports shortages in the field by citing the lower number of applicants for these positions. However, the existing research is inconclusive. While the number of applications for a given position may be lower than in the past, school districts are still reporting satisfaction with the search process and the candidates they select. Various standards projects for K-12 educational leadership exist. Many of these were prompted by the perceived need to attract more candidates to the field at every level of educational administration. The researcher selected the American Association of School Administrators' (AASA) Professional Standards for the Superintendency as a proxy for the knowledge and skills needed to be effective in the superintendency. These standards were created to improve educational leadership effectiveness at the superintendent level. They provide a framework for the development of improved leadership preparation programs and assist in individual leadership performance evaluation. For the purposes of this study, the AASA Standards have been correlated to the Four Frames leadership model developed by Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal. This correlation serves as the conceptual framework for this research project. This study examined the perceptions of current New York State school superintendents regarding the applicability of the AASA leadership standards by comparing two groups. The superintendents in the treatment group of this study participated in the SUNY Oswego Superintendent Development Program (SDP) prior to acquiring their first superintendency. The comparison group was comprised of current superintendents who did not participate in this specific pre-service preparation program prior to becoming a school superintendent. The majority of school superintendents responding to the survey indicated that the AASA leadership standards are consistent with the daily work of superintendents. The average percent of respondents selecting the responses extremely or very important was 77% for the 33 indicators surveyed. In addition, superintendents responding to the survey believed they were prepared for the superintendency in their first year. The average percent of responses for the answers extremely or very prepared was 44% for the 33 indicators. When we add the answer prepared, the average increases from 44 to 76%. Only 6% selected not prepared for the 33 indicators surveyed. When survey respondent data was disaggregated, differences among perceptions of preparation were found for some groups. The SDP and earning a doctorate appear to be promising pathways for preparing school superintendents. On average, respondents to the AASA Standards Survey who participated in the SDP and/or earned a doctorate indicated that they were better prepared to perform the tasks described by the indicators than other respondents. Differences in perception of preparedness were the greatest for SDP and non-SDP women. Regardless of their preparation pathway, the results of the survey identified two areas were superintendent preparation might be improved. The indicators to "develop a process for maintaining accurate fiscal reporting" was ranked 30 out of 33 and to "describe procedures for superintendent-school board interpersonal/working relationships" was ranked 32 out of 33 by all respondents. These two indicators were among the five indicators ranked last by mean score by all subgroups of respondents as well. Interestingly, these results confirm the findings of previous studies on the superintendency. The most successful school districts have leadership structures where the superintendent and school board work towards the same goals, keeping students' interests first in their decision-making. These school districts also manage their resources well. Waters and Marzano (2006) found that "board alignment and support of district goals" and "use of resources to support academic achievement and instruction goals" were among the top five areas where superintendents should focus their efforts in order to impact student achievement positively. Given the importance of these skills, organizations preparing future superintendents should review their programs in these two areas: superintendent-school board relations and resource management"--Leaves ix-xi.