The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how teachers in schools with a highly effective school climate describe leadership styles and qualities of the schools' leadership. The primary research question guiding this study is: How do teachers in schools with a highly effective school climate describe leadership styles and…

The role of the department chair is considered one of the most thankless jobs in higher education, but there is surprisingly little research on the daily work-lives of faculty members serving in departmental leadership roles. This study updates the literature by using a national sample of 3,317 associate and full professors serving in department…

The importance of leadership for key educational outcomes is well documented, yet leaders' working conditions and well-being have received considerably less attention, particularly in the early care and education (ECE) sector. Job-Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory was used to develop a holistic conceptualization of leader well-being for the purpose…

This dissertation applies cognitive load theory to teacher working conditions in New York City. To connect small-scale cognitive processes with perennial organization-level effects, the theoretical components of this paper develop a novel framework. Load reduction leadership (LRL) illuminates how day-to-day school operations impact staff members'…

This study delves into the complexities of change in the educational setting and examines the relationship between educator readiness for change and factors related to the organization's culture which directly impact student achievement. The historical lack of progress in implementing change efforts in the United States, coupled with widening gaps…

An effective leader is a supportive person who values your thoughts, ideas, and opinions. Excellent leaders are available to all members of the team, willing to work hard, engaged no matter what the task, and are notably trustworthy. Leaders help focus the team through purposeful communication, vision, engagement, and inspiration to cause others…

Purpose: Research shows that school leadership and working conditions strongly predict teacher turnover, but less empirical work has explored how school leaders grapple with this aspect of their work. This paper investigates how school leaders across diverse geographic and institutional contexts understand human capital challenges and construct…

Purpose: Research shows that school leadership and working conditions strongly predict teacher turnover, but less empirical work has explored how school leaders grapple with this aspect of their work. This article investigates how school leaders across diverse geographic and institutional contexts understand human capital challenges and construct…

This article presents the development and application of a model that can be utilized to compare the autonomy of principals in various historical and national contexts. Drawing on former conceptual work on autonomy in education, the model conceptualizes principal autonomy as two-dimensional. The first dimension is the decision making expected from…

In 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law, replacing No Child Left Behind as the statutory education policy of the federal government of the United States (US). Building on prior shifts in accountability policy at the state level, ESSA focused attention and resources on building school leadership capacities. Five years on,…

Islamic schools are expected to provide excellent academic and religious education to all students (Brifkani, 2017). A strong principal is integral in creating a learning environment and school culture that are conducive to academic excellence, continuous improvement, and religious spirituality (Aabed, 2006). However, the lack of stable leadership…

This paper examines principals' perceptions of school autonomy and leadership as part of a 3-year research project looking at the implications of school autonomy on social justice across four states of Australia (Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland). Drawing on interviews with principals and representatives from principal…

Purpose: Little is known about how teachers view the leadership of assistant principals in comparison to that of principals, especially in relationship to teachers' work outcomes. We examine whether a gap exists between teachers' perceptions of fairness from principals and assistant principals, and whether this gap is associated with teachers'…

Instructional leaders are vital to the success of a school given the impact their leadership behaviors can have on teacher retention. This quantitative study investigated the connection between teachers' perceptions of instructional leaders and teacher retention. Furthermore, this study explored which factors had the most significant impact on…

This quantitative study sought to determine the efficacy and mindset perceptions of current school leaders and teachers within public high schools. This study highlighted a discrepancy in efficacy and mindset among educators for each other. Firstly, school leaders feel they make a difference, but teachers do not hold the same level of belief in…