In this mixed-methods multi-case study, the researcher's aim was to examine the confidence and competence of new assistant principals in public school districts in California. The scope of participants included superintendents, principals, and teacher leaders. A review of the literature revealed that although the role of the new assistant…

The purpose of this mixed methods case study was to understand the hiring practices of a school district when considering a principal and how the school district attends to leadership within those hiring practices. The central premise of the study was leadership matters and is second to teaching in student achievement. However, the historical…

Racism, social media, and free speech collide on a high school campus when a student creates an offensive poster that a classmate posts on social media. This case describes a school administrator's conversations and actions with students, teachers, and the community addressing bigotry, race, and free speech on campus. The scenario is presented…

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…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how K-12 public school administrators describe their practice of culturally responsive leadership (CRL) and their practice of California Professional Standards of Educational Leaders (CPSEL). There were four research questions that guided this study: (1) How do K-12 public school…

This qualitative study seeks to explore teacher and administrator perceptions of teacher recruitment, retention and support within a Californian turnaround high school run since 2007 by a charter management organization referred to here as New Schools. Upon the basis of previous research that has documented statistically significant improvements…

Every campus leader is critical in supporting student achievement, most notably the principal and the often-unnoticed assistant principal (AP). The problem this study addresses is the lack of advancement in the AP's role as an instructional leader in light of educational reform and the demands of the 21st century. To address this issue, the…

A principal's job is complex, demanding, and multi-faceted. Effective principals shape a school's academic vision and foster a climate for learning. In addition, they develop leadership capacity in teachers and staff, promote sound instructional practices, and use resources and data to drive school improvement (Mendels, 2012). Given these…

Purpose: With the rise of the Latinx student population in the United States and the urgency to meet the needs of this diverse community, there has been an increased concern and interest in preparing more Latinx educators and school leaders. This study contributes to this knowledge base by centering the voices and experiences of four Latina school…

The teacher-student relationship is a vital component to the social, emotional, and academic growth of students. Nationwide the one constant in teachers' classrooms are the observations by administrators. Administrators play a supporting role for students and teachers in our modern educational system. The present case study examined four middle…

It's hard for the author to believe that three people who greatly influenced his career and the careers of many other school leaders all passed away just days apart at the beginning of this year. He began his career in public education in the Riverside Unified School District in 1972, following eight years as a teacher and administrator at LaSalle…

This brief summarizes the practices of successful, instructionally engaged leaders and the ways districts develop these leaders. These practices are drawn from "positive outlier" districts in California that have excelled at helping African American, Latino/a, and White students achieve at high levels on assessments of academic standards…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the job satisfaction of principals and assistant principals in traditional public high schools in Southern California's Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and those in charter high schools operating within the same boundaries. Methodology: The subjects in the present study were 15…

The Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) charter schools' consistently positive impacts on student achievement (detailed in Volume I of this report) have prompted efforts to scale up the KIPP model to serve more students. According to the KIPP model, highly qualified and autonomous principals, supported by national and regional staff, drive the…

At some level, principals always have been instructional leaders--but never before has their role been more prominent. First, the accountability movement--No Child Left Behind (NCLB) in particular--thrust principals into the spotlight on academic achievement. Then budget cuts peeled away capacity at both the district and school levels, thinning…