This dissertation explores the intricate interplay of presidential priorities in the evolving landscape of higher education, particularly within the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Over the past 15 years, college presidents have confronted various challenges, from budget constraints and racial tensions to employee engagement…

This dissertation explored school principals' perspectives on optimal leadership practices and their impact on student achievement in Title I schools. Title I schools with high percentages of children from low-income families often face unique challenges, making the study of leadership practices within these institutions especially significant.…

The current school environment creates stressors for principals preventing them from being instructionally-focused leaders. This project determined current stressors perceived by principals that interfere with their ability to provide instructional leadership and strategies they use to manage those stressors so they are able to focus more time on…

Higher education is facing a wave of presidential transitions. While the transition of a president can be a monumental and celebrated occasion for a college or university, it is often accompanied by work disruptions, job uncertainty, and turnover of senior administrators. University presidents can face numerous challenges as they try to adapt to a…

The increased attrition in the teacher workforce has policy makers at state and national levels attempting to fill vacancies from a candidate pool that is drying up. Particularly of interest is the percentage of beginning teachers who are leaving the profession early in their careers. Researchers have examined elements of preparation or induction…

While the expectations and challenges facing K-12 educational leaders are considerable and significantly increasing, the support they receive in training, leadership development, and ongoing support has been limited in range and relevance. Although Cognitive Coaching is not a leadership development program, per se, Cognitive Coaching is a model of…

This doctoral dissertation delves into the intricate and transformative journey that aspiring educators undertake as they ascend to the pivotal role of a school principal. Grounded in qualitative research methods, the study employs in-depth interviews, reflective narratives, and document analysis to illuminate the multifaceted dimensions of the…

We study the returns to experience in teaching, estimated using supervisor ratings from classroom observations. We describe the assumptions required to interpret changes in observation ratings over time as the causal effect of experience on performance. We compare two difference-in-differences strategies: the two-way fixed effects estimator common…

The issue of gender bias has been studied in many facets of society, including business, education, and leadership in general. Researchers and professionals working in the field have long had concerns over the issue of gender bias: if it is occurring, what does the rate and impact have on overall success in leadership? Women in upper-level…

Increasing job duties and responsibilities associated with the changing role of school principals have prompted even greater accountability. As a result, principals are faced with competing demands and expectations in various forms of accountability from multiple stakeholders. This study examines principals' perception of accountability in the…

For nearly 30 years charter schools in California have been designed to be flexible and innovative educational laboratories. Just like traditional district schools, public-school charter schools offer tuition-free learning options for families in California. The flexibility in curriculum, school calendars, and learning themes are some of the ways…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences, leadership evolution, and decision-making criteria of rural, novice principals in the state of Missouri during the crisis known as COVID-19. Using Bandura's (1977) self-efficacy theory, the researcher examined the participants' perceptions of their…

The impact of principals on America's urban public schools cannot be overstated. With mounting pressures to increase student achievement and ever fluid job responsibilities, leaders are faced with challenges of which their pre-service preparation may not have taken into account. Principals' perceptions of their pre-service training, along with…

Climate change (CC) is the most significant global issue facing humanity, yet research addressing the perspectives of the key players influential in developing and implementing school-based CC curricula at a cross-country national level is scarce. This study examined the perceptions of policymakers, teacher professional development providers and…

Education has undergone radical transformation as a result of the digital era, and educational leaders' roles and responsibilities have been redefined. This study addresses the critical need to understand how leaders navigate challenges and embrace opportunities in this dynamic landscape. 161 leaders in various positions within higher institutions…