Date of Award

8-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Executive Leadership

First Supervisor

Dr. Angela Clark-Taylor

Second Supervisor

Dr. Michael Wischnowski

Abstract

Paraeducators are leaving their positions at alarming levels, leaving teachers, students, and schools vulnerable. The exploratory, cross-sectional, correlational survey study examines the relationship between paraeducator perceptions of teacher-supervisor leadership behaviors and retention, as well as the factors contributing to turnover. Full range leadership theory (FRLT) and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) are used to describe leadership behaviors. The study used a survey design advertised to a paraeducator Facebook group, which included the MLQ rating scale, a closed-response item on intent to leave, and an open ended question on intent to leave. Data was analyzed using statistical and correlational analyses, as well as qualitative thematic analyses. The major results include a positive weak correlation between paraeducator intent to stay and transformational leadership behavior, a positive weak correlation between paraeducator intent to stay and transactional leadership behavior, and a negative weak correlation between paraeducator intent to stay and passive-avoidant leadership behavior. Major themes found included (1) positive team connections support paraeducator intent to stay, (2) total compensation is an important motivation for intent to stay, and (3) people acknowledge their greater purpose if they are staying. Implications of this study suggest stakeholders focus on connections within the paraeducator-teacher dynamic over the content of the paraeducator role, that stakeholders directly build teacher-supervisor leadership capacity, and that stakeholders consider the layered structure of transformational and transactional full range leadership behaviors.

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