Date of Award
5-2024
Culminating Project Type
Dissertation
Styleguide
apa
Degree Name
Educational Administration and Leadership, K-12: Ed.D.
Department
Educational Administration and Higher Education
College
School of Education
First Advisor
Dr. John Eller
Second Advisor
Dr. Amy Christensen
Third Advisor
Dr. Steven Emerson
Fourth Advisor
Dr. David Lund
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
change leader, organizational change, change leadership, principal as change leader, McREL
Abstract
The focus of this research is to identify the most frequent steps and actions taken by Minnesota principals who led successful and sustainable change. Additionally, the findings will be aligned with research from Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) which focuses on the principal responsibilities as they pertain to school change and student achievement. Existing research establishes the most impactful responsibilities and practices of principals who lead change, yet it is difficult to find current empirical studies that align the responsibilities with principal steps and actions.
Several findings emerged from this study. Principals in this study took actions in creating a positive climate and culture, empowering teams, and soliciting feedback. The actions of principals in this study largely aligned with six of McREL’s 21 principal responsibilities: change agent, culture, input, resources, monitor and evaluate, and situational awareness. Principals also reported barriers which were consolidated into three main themes: people challenges, financial and contract challenges, and COVID. These barriers were also met with strategic responses which ended up working in the favor of study participants.
This study will be valuable to current and future principals and to universities who train administrators for licensure.
Recommended Citation
Patten, Cynthia, "Minnesota Public School Principal Practices that Support School Change and the Barriers that Impede Improvement Efforts" (2024). Culminating Projects in Education Administration and Leadership. 108.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/edad_etds/108
