An Analysis of Middle School Principals Perceptions of Assistant Principal Experiences

An Analysis of Middle School Principals Perceptions of Assistant Principal Experiences PDF Author: David Lynn Everett
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ISBN:
Category : Assistant school principals
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Book Description
Principals are under pressure to continue to achieve academic success. Academic achievement and success are synonymous with student performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test, as well as other variables on the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR). The role of the middle school principal is critical to the transition of students from elementary skills to the requisite secondary skills. Educational organizations are constantly seeking ways to improve the process of supporting the campus level administrators. In many cases, the principalship comes by way of serving time and gaining experience as an assistant principal. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived skills, experiences of assistant principals in middle schools that led to their current success as a principal. The study results also identified kinds of mentor experiences as well. A mixed-method research design was utilized for collecting data. Descriptive and qualitative data were collected first from a questionnaire administered to selected Texas middle school principals. Descriptive data included age, number of years of experience in education, Educational Service Center region, years as an assistant principal, and years as a principal. Qualitative data was gathered from principals to provide a personal perspective. The narratives collected provided the principals perceived critical skills, assignments, and experiences that led to the success as middle school principals. The perceived critical skills of principals were ranked using the abilities necessary for success as campus administrators. Formal and informal mentoring practices were identified through the qualitative narratives. Based on the narratives of principals, results from the study revealed the more hands-on experiences an assistant principal can have the better and more ready for the principalship individuals are. Principals noted experiences dealing with communication, campus instructional leadership, meeting the needs of special populations, and attending to the details were the most important activities for assistant principals to have in preparation for becoming a principal. Ultimately, principals expressed the more involved an assistant principal is with the frameworks of education, the more successful they are as principals.

An Analysis of Middle School Principals Perceptions of Assistant Principal Experiences

An Analysis of Middle School Principals Perceptions of Assistant Principal Experiences PDF Author: David Lynn Everett
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Assistant school principals
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Book Description
Principals are under pressure to continue to achieve academic success. Academic achievement and success are synonymous with student performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test, as well as other variables on the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR). The role of the middle school principal is critical to the transition of students from elementary skills to the requisite secondary skills. Educational organizations are constantly seeking ways to improve the process of supporting the campus level administrators. In many cases, the principalship comes by way of serving time and gaining experience as an assistant principal. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived skills, experiences of assistant principals in middle schools that led to their current success as a principal. The study results also identified kinds of mentor experiences as well. A mixed-method research design was utilized for collecting data. Descriptive and qualitative data were collected first from a questionnaire administered to selected Texas middle school principals. Descriptive data included age, number of years of experience in education, Educational Service Center region, years as an assistant principal, and years as a principal. Qualitative data was gathered from principals to provide a personal perspective. The narratives collected provided the principals perceived critical skills, assignments, and experiences that led to the success as middle school principals. The perceived critical skills of principals were ranked using the abilities necessary for success as campus administrators. Formal and informal mentoring practices were identified through the qualitative narratives. Based on the narratives of principals, results from the study revealed the more hands-on experiences an assistant principal can have the better and more ready for the principalship individuals are. Principals noted experiences dealing with communication, campus instructional leadership, meeting the needs of special populations, and attending to the details were the most important activities for assistant principals to have in preparation for becoming a principal. Ultimately, principals expressed the more involved an assistant principal is with the frameworks of education, the more successful they are as principals.

Perceptions of the Visionary Leadership of Assistant Principals in Georgia Middle Schools

Perceptions of the Visionary Leadership of Assistant Principals in Georgia Middle Schools PDF Author: Christopher John LeMieux
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ISBN:
Category : Assistant school principals
Languages : en
Pages : 280

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An Exploration of the Current Experiences and Challenges of the Assistant Principal During the Age of Educational Reform

An Exploration of the Current Experiences and Challenges of the Assistant Principal During the Age of Educational Reform PDF Author: Jonathan Mendelsohn
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ISBN:
Category : Assistant school principals
Languages : en
Pages : 181

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Book Description
"The educational leadership literature has neglected to document the current practices of assistant principals in the public schools. This void does little to illuminate a current understanding of the role they play in school reform. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to provide an in-depth understanding of the experiences and challenges of six secondary assistant principals in an underperforming school district during a period of intense accountability. The research questions used to understand the current role are: What are the experiences of assistant principals engaged in the practice in underperforming urban schools? What are the perceptions of the challenges of the assistant principal position by those engaged in this practice in underperforming urban schools? The emerging themes included role perception and role experiences, experiences in the context of school reform, perceived challenges, and insight into future recommendations. The results of this study confirm that assistant principals continue to be responsible for student discipline and school operational tasks. However, over time as experience is gained, they perform a new and emerging instructional leadership role"--Author's abstract.

Perceptions of the Assistant Principal's Role in School Leadership

Perceptions of the Assistant Principal's Role in School Leadership PDF Author: Sandra Mattocks
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ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
This research study examines the perceptions of the assistant principal's role in school leadership in an effort to understand the opportunities and constraints inherent in current configurations of the assistant principal position and whether and how those opportunities and constraints might affect an instructional leadership role. The study is organized around the following key research questions: (1) What does the current role of assistant principals look like? (2) How are the role requirements and responsibilities determined and what is the intent? (3) In what ways, or to what extent, can these assigned tasks and responsibilities be seen as preparation for the principalship? (4) What trainings and experiences do assistant principals perceive to be missing from their current role that could assist them in assuming a principal position? This study concluded that although the role of the assistant principal still remains mired in managerial and clerical duties, such as attendance and discipline, the role of today's assistant principal appears to have expanded to one that includes staff supervision, instructional leadership, and curriculum development. Results from this study suggest that while the principal is still a strong influence over the role requirements and responsibilities of assistant principals, this influence is more positive rather than negative. While the respondents identified finance, school law and special education as key areas that are still largely missing from their work assignments, the data from this study showed that principals are currently providing instructional leadership opportunities that allow for their assistant principals to grow their leadership skills and be seen as leaders.

Exploring Principals' Perceptions about Potential and Readiness for the Principalship in Assistant Principals

Exploring Principals' Perceptions about Potential and Readiness for the Principalship in Assistant Principals PDF Author: Richard Martin Gonzales
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ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 332

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Book Description
Research has documented the need for school districts to recruit and retain qualified school leaders capable of navigating the organizational challenges for school improvement, particularly in high-poverty, low-achievement contexts. Recently, scholars have studied principal pipeline structures implemented by school districts to recruit and retain effective principals. A key finding of this research is that clearly-defined standards and performance criteria can inform school districts' strategic identification and development of individuals with the potential to become effective principals. Further research is needed to understand and define potential and readiness for the principalship in assistant principals, commonly the largest candidate group in a principal pipeline. I used a qualitative case study design to investigate veteran principals' perceptions about potential and readiness for the principalship in assistant principals. Six principals in one urban school in Texas were purposefully selected based on their experience with supporting, developing, and/or endorsing former assistant principals for promotion to the principalship while under their supervision. I collected data through questionnaires and in-depth interviews to understand this phenomenon through the informants' lived experience. I found that the principals view professional competence and personal dispositions as indicators of potential and readiness for the principalship. They believe an assistant principal's potential to perform as a principal is evident in the processes and products of their work, but they don't believe all high-potentials are necessarily ready to become principals. Shared leadership was instrumental to developing readiness for the principalship in their assistant principals, and developing capacity by building on strength and targeting weakness worked equally well in their experience. Using these findings and existing research, I identify state and district-level policy implications for the field. I also make recommendations for further study of this topic in the future.

A Case Study of Attitudes and Perceptions of Leadership Characteristics as Perceived by Middle School Teachers and the Principals

A Case Study of Attitudes and Perceptions of Leadership Characteristics as Perceived by Middle School Teachers and the Principals PDF Author: Theodore Benjamin Bowen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Educational leadership
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
This dissertation determined the congruence with the order of importance concerning what middle school teachers and middle school principals value regarding the behavioral characteristics of effective middle school principals and if a relationship exists between those characteristics and the 2006/2008 North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Surveys. The indications and suggestions of this research were based on the data collected from many different middle schools representing different geographical areas within a large school system located within the piedmont-triad central region of North Carolina. Information was obtained from different multi-question surveys from middle school teachers and principals, open-ended questions, and focus group interviews. This component of the study identified any common behavioral characteristics that the teachers and principals, at the same school, have of themselves with an order of importance. This information was compared to the 2006 and 2008 results of the North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Surveys information from the same middle schools to determine if a correlation existed between the total data collected. The results of this research indicated that the younger teachers with less teaching experiences wanted their principal to have the traits of a manager and an instructional leader. The older teachers with more teaching experiences wanted their principal to have the traits of one who uses people skills and one who has a vision. The principals see themselves primarily as instructional leaders.

An Assessment of the Perceived Instructional Leadership Behaviors of Assistant Principals

An Assessment of the Perceived Instructional Leadership Behaviors of Assistant Principals PDF Author: Ronald Earl Atkinson (Jr.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Assistant school principals
Languages : en
Pages : 174

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Book Description
This study examined the extent to which the role of the assistant principal is perceived to include instructional leadership behaviors. Specifically, this study compared the perceptions of instructional leadership practices of elementary, middle, and high school assistant principals from the perspectives of assistant principals, principals, and teachers. A nonexperimental comparative design was used. Quantitative data were collected via a version of the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale that was adapted for application to assistant principals. Analysis of variance, independent-samples t-test, correlation, and nonresponse bias analysis were conducted. Effect size and standard error were calculated. Results indicated that the mean scores given by principals were the highest given by any of the three role groups and those given by teachers were the lowest including the lowest seven mean subscale scores among all role groups. Analysis of variance and t-test results of survey responses indicated that, though statistically significant differences were identified regarding school level, gender of the assistant principal, and role of the rater, no practical differences were found. Results further indicated that there was a negligible relationship between experience and ratings of assistant principal instructional leadership. Recommendations include those related to suggestions for continued research on this topic as well as implications for the practice of instructional leadership for assistant principals.

Skills Assistant Principals Need to be Successful as Instructional Leaders

Skills Assistant Principals Need to be Successful as Instructional Leaders PDF Author: Scotty Ryan Johnson
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ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 125

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Book Description
This study compared perceptions of principals and assistant principals to examine the skills and traits necessary for one to be successful as an assistant principal. Research on the role of the assistant principal is limited. Over the last several years there have been major reforms in education such as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 that constitute a re-examination of all roles in K-12 schools. An online survey was used to gather data from assistant principal and principals in the State of Mississippi.Overall, 9 out of the 10 variables are significant except problem solving in the second MANOVA which reports the results of the comparison of the first year assistant principals and principals. This variable showed no significant difference between assistant principals and principals in regards to problem solving with a significance of .239. In each of these variables assistant principals rated the skills as more important than principals. The results of this study suggest that school districts and state departments of education should consider providing more training for assistant principals and principals about instructional leadership.

Teacher Perceptions of the Changing Role of the Secondary Middle School Principal

Teacher Perceptions of the Changing Role of the Secondary Middle School Principal PDF Author: Dawn E. Coffin
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ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
ABSTRACT: The focus of this study was to examine perceptions of middle school teachers regarding the changing role of the secondary middle school principal and compare teachers' results with assistant principals' and principals' perceptions of their role, thus adding the voice of teachers, regarding the secondary principal's role, to existing literature. Data was collected electronically using the survey method in one urban Florida school district. Qualitative and quantitative data were captured using the Principal's Role Questionnaire (PRQ) (Goodwin, 2002). Thirty-six principal role descriptor statements on the PRQ survey requested a level of agreement from research participants regarding changes, current and future roles of the secondary principal. Four open ended comment requests allowed participants to comment on the principal's role in those areas. Role descriptor statements were categorized into four areas: strategic leadership, instructional leadership, organizational leadership and political and community leadership. Quantitative findings revealed that teacher perceptions regarding the secondary middle school principal's role were significantly significant for only 14 of the 36 role descriptors when compared to principals' scores. Teachers' mean score ratings were lower than principals' for all 36 PRQ items, however their scores were considered in agreement, as no score was lower than 2.52. Lower score ratings for all 36 PRQ items suggested somewhat of a disconnection between principals and teachers as to the principal's role. Qualitative findings from teachers varied from an understanding of the principal's role to suggestions for the principal. Further research is needed to determine secondary principal role expectations that are important and desired by secondary teachers.

The Transition Experience

The Transition Experience PDF Author: Kimberly R. Cockley
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Educational leadership
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
Incorporating the concept of the first 100 days, referenced mainly when discussing government and business leaders, this study aimed to understand the transition experience of middle school principals, during their first 100 days, in public schools in Ohio who have led their current schools to improvement. Research centered on the experiences of these principals, actions implemented by these principals, external and internal circumstances and individuals that influenced those actions, their perceptions of how those actions influenced their schools' future improvement, and the perceptions of the principals regarding effective transitions. Participants for the study were 10 middle school principals who had been in their current position for less than four full years and whose schools had shown improvement on the state report card based on an increased designation during their leadership. The study was informed by grounded theory methodology regarding data collection and analysis, in order to develop a framework of the transition into the middle school principalship that was grounded in the data. The data revealed a transformation process: positioning self into the new principal role, establishing self in the new principal role, and transforming self from the new principal to the principal. Within each phase of the transformation process, these principals' experiences included their transformation focus, as they reflected on and attended to themselves, others, and the middle school. This transition framework may prove useful in informing practice and policy regarding leadership transitions for current and future middle school principals, as well as schools, districts, and administrative organizations.