Date of Award
8-2021
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Executive Leadership
First Supervisor
Dr. Marie Cianca
Second Supervisor
Dr. Linda McGinley
Abstract
Through Kouzes and Posner’s transformational leadership framework, this study examined the perceived leadership practices of secondary school principals in New York State’s high-achieving, high-needs rural schools. New York State’s rural principals face a variety of challenges to meet students’ needs. Rural principals are often members of smaller leadership teams, and assume varying leadership responsibilities with fewer opportunities to collaborate with peers. The peer-reviewed literature focusing on principal leadership practices is extensive but lacks a focus on high-needs, rural secondary schools. The study was qualitative, as data were collected using semistructured interviews of six rural secondary school principals. Each principal in the study led a high-needs rural school that the New York State Education Department awarded Recognition School status. Using Kouzes and Posner’s (2017) five transformational leadership practices as a framework, the study explored the perceived leadership practices as outlined by the participants during the interviews. Data analysis identified commonalities among the participants’ responses. These similarities resulted in three findings. First, rural secondary school principals that inspire a shared vision focused on student needs are able to cultivate student success. Second, the ability of rural principals to challenge the process is paramount when addressing difficulties in rural school settings. Third, meeting student needs takes an educational community that must be nurtured, developed, and empowered. The study affirmed that secondary school principals in high-needs rural schools can positively impact organizations by demonstrating transformational leadership.
Recommended Citation
Barr, Matthew D., "An Examination of Secondary School Principal Leadership Practices in High-Achieving, High-Needs Rural Schools in New York State" (2021). Education Doctoral. Paper 498.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/education_etd/498
Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations.