Many school districts in the United States struggle to retain assistant principals (APs), thus losing the opportunity to prepare and promote quality internal candidates for the principalship. The purpose of the critical participatory action research study was to add to the limited research on AP experiences and how to support their professional…

The purpose of this dissertation in practice study was to explore the relationship between the job competencies and motivation of high school assistant principals in Ohio public schools. The aim of the study was to test the relationship between those variables and, using the findings, to make practical recommendations for the job design of the…

School leaders, specifically principals, play a pivotal role in shaping student learning outcomes. The benefits of strong leaders extend beyond academic achievement, such as reductions in absenteeism and exclusionary discipline. While quality principals are critical for creating and sustaining quality schools, the staffing pipeline is facing…

Prior research has found the transition to high school to be a critical time for ninth-grade students. This mixed-methodology study investigated the experiences of a school-based team that provided programming and various support to ninth-grade students using the teaming model. The study utilized the following methods: 1) interviews, 2) historical…

Many students in rural U.S. schools are experiencing trauma and adverse childhood experiences due to circumstances relating to the opioid crisis. A moral imperative presents itself to school principals and other educational leaders to make context-specific decisions that are responsive to the trauma experienced by the students in their schools.…

Recent decades have seen a shortage of qualified secondary school principals. Retirements and an accelerated rate of attrition from the ranks of school leadership has exacerbated this shortage, necessitating an urgency to understand the factors that facilitate the professional development and growth of the next generation of school leaders. The…

The purpose of the current investigation is to examine the attitudes and knowledge of principals toward least restrictive environment (LRE) as it relates to students with disabilities in four counties in Northeast Ohio. The research was conducted using a web-based modified survey that included questions from "The Principals' and Inclusion…

In their plans to carry out the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states universally recognize what New Leaders has long known: "leadership changes everything." In fact, every single state has committed to directing some portion of its federal funding into investments in leadership--from teacher leaders to principals and…

The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics and traits of individuals and buildings in which teacher empowerment is strongest, so that those schools and individuals can be further studied and emulated. An additional purpose of the study is to investigate the relationships between principals and school environment characteristics,…

The purpose of a physical restraint is to control the behavior of a student. It can involve physically holding a person immobile against his or her will to using chemical or mechanical devices to control a person. This study was designed to contribute to the paucity of existing research literature in regards to a school administrator's impact on…

The purpose of the study was to determine the conditions affecting the decision to seek or not seek a position as a school assistant principal or principal. The principalship presents unique challenges to the individual who aspires to building level leadership, and school districts are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit highly qualified…

Many Ohio educators are retiring at a young age and returning to positions in public schools following retirement. Some states restrict retirees' returning to public-school employment. Ohio is the most lenient state of eight states reviewed in allowing retirees to return to work in public schools. This report provides the results of a study of 25…

This study investigated attitudes concerning inclusive education among teachers and building administrators (principals and vice principals) in Ohio. Sixteen grants were awarded to educators in 28 public schools to support their efforts in conceptualizing and implementing inclusive education. Inclusive education was defined as any educational…