The relationship between principals’ perceptions of school practices and student achievement in science: The implicit ethical meaning of the TIMSS

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 724-744
Author(s):  
Orly Shapira-Lishchinsky
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
Educational Leaders ◽  
Ethical Practices ◽  
School Practices ◽  
Multiple Group ◽  
8Th Grade ◽  
Teachers And Parents ◽  
Principals Perceptions ◽  
Perceptions Of School ◽  
Timss 2015

The aim of this study was to explore principals’ perceptions of school practices that have ethical meaning through a transnational perspective based on the 8th grade TIMSS 2015 international assessment. The sample comprised 8353 principals from 8353 different schools and 280,130 students that participated in the TIMSS 2015 survey. We used principals’ ranking procedure and Mplus for exploratory and confirmatory analyses, multilevel confirmatory analysis, and multiple group comparison. The results indicated that principals’ perceptions include three main dimensions with an ethical meaning: ‘caring for students’ learning’, ‘respecting the rules amongst students and teachers’ and ‘parents’ and students’ involvement in schooling’. These dimensions broaden the meaning of existing dimensions describing ethical practices in school leadership. In addition, they were found to positively predict students’ science achievements. The novelty of this study is reflected by the results, leading to the understanding that the TIMSS principals’ questionnaire has an additional meaning, which goes beyond its original parameters. The findings may lead to a better understanding of the importance of the role of educational leaders in promoting ethical school practices. This study set out to elicit a new transnational measure, which may warrant an exploration of the similarities and differences between countries.

Black Women: Perceptions and Enactments of Leadership

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-165
Author(s):  
Tiffany S. Aaron
Keyword(s):  
Black Women ◽  
Women Leaders ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Women Principals ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Black Women Leaders ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Black Women Principals ◽  
Perceptions Of Leadership ◽  
Principals Perceptions

This critical in-depth interview study examined four Black women principals’ perceptions, descriptions, and enactments of school leadership as it relates to their intersectional identities as being both Black and women. The tenets of Black feminist epistemology and the theory of intersectionality form the conceptual framework of this study. Research demonstrates that Black women leaders’ multiplicative identity as Black and women influences their experiences and perceptions of leadership. The principals’ perceptions of school leadership developed into several categories and two themes: student-centered leadership and perceptions of racial stereotypes and deconstructing perceptions about Black women.

Emotion display and suppression among Arab and Jewish assistant principals in Israel

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Arar ◽  
Izhar Oplatka
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Emotional Expression ◽  
Assistant Principals ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Practical Knowledge ◽  
Educational Leaders ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Needs ◽  
Teachers And Parents

Purpose It is widely accepted that educational leaders and teachers need to manage and regulate their emotions continually, mainly because schooling and teaching processes expose many emotions. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to trace the ways Israeli assistant principals, both Arab and Jewish, manage their emotions at work. Design/methodology/approach Based on semi-structured interviews with 15 assistant principals, it was found that they are required to manage their emotions in accordance with entrenched emotion rules in the culture and society. Findings Most of the Jewish female APs tend to display warmth and empathy toward teachers in order to better understand their personal needs and professional performances. In contrast, Arab APs suppressed or fabricated emotional expression in their discourse with teachers and parents, in order to maintain a professional façade and retain the internal cohesion of the school. Both groups of APs believed their emotion regulation results in higher level of harmony in the school. Empirical and practical suggestions are put forward. Originality/value The paper is original and contributes to the theoretical and practical knowledge.

scholarly journals Exploring the Personal Mastery of Educational Leaders: FieldTransFormation360 and its Validation in the Austrian Leadership Academy

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Malte Gregorzewski ◽  
Michael Schratz ◽  
Christian Wiesner
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Educational Leaders ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Leadership Academy ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Transformative Power ◽  
Personal Mastery

This paper introduces the innovative model FieldTransFormation360 and its aim to help educational leaders in assessing their personal mastery. Moreover, it presents empirical findings from its first exploratory applicationin an Austrian leadership framework. In a first conceptual part, the theoretical underpinnings and the context of the origin of the model are outlined with reference to similar approaches in the area of school leadership. In the following part, the application of the model is introduced through the explanation of the methodology and how the model is turned into a self-assessment instrument. Insights into the results of its exploratoryapplication in the Austrian Leadership Academy are presented in the empirical part. Its first application serves as the consolidation and validation of FieldTransFormation360 as a meaningful self-assessment tool for the professional development of school leaders. The results of the exploratory approach with participants in the Austrian Leadership Academy suggest that the model and its instrument can be regarded as a robust assessment tool for the development of a deeper understanding about the transformative power through personal and professional development in the lived experience of educational leadership.

Principals’ Perceptions of Transformed School Counselors

2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-157
Author(s):  
Ashley Lawrence ◽  
Carolyn Stone
Keyword(s):  
School Counselors ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Hiring Practices ◽  
Leadership Qualities ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Counselor Educator ◽  
Effective Principal ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Principals Perceptions ◽  
Perceptions Of School

This study investigated the relationship between the Transformed School Counseling (TSC) initiative counselor educator programs, the perceptions of school principals hiring TSC-prepared school counselors, and factors affecting principal’s hiring practices. Results indicated that principal’s value TSC candidates because they: (a) have effective principal-counselor relationships that positively affect students, (b) exemplify leadership qualities, (c) align their work with the mission of the school, (d) have strong communication skills, and (e) do not require additional training.

scholarly journals Educational Administrators’ Perspectives of Democracy and Citizenship Education: Interviews with Educational Leaders.

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Long
Keyword(s):  
Public School ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Citizenship Education ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
Educational Leaders ◽  
School Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Educational Administrators ◽  
Phenomenological Methodology

Little is known about public school educational administrators’ perspectives of democracy and citizenship education and how those perspectives shape the learning that occurs in the schools they lead. This paper presents findings of a qualitative study that used semi-structured interviews of public school educational administrators’ perspectives of democracy and citizenship education in the province of Alberta, Canada. Four participants’ detailed responses were analyzed using an interpretive phenomenological methodology and coded into four themes. While all four participants felt that democratic and citizenship education were important, their conceptualizations varied widely and only one participant was found to lead in a way that encouraged democratically desirable education. Findings suggest that some educational administrators do not necessarily understand their role or responsibility in the education of democracy and citizenship within the schools they lead. Moreover, this study suggests that factors that hinder democratic and citizenship education are: school administrators’ preference to remain obedient to a top-down approach of school management; resource taxing administrative obligations and; a misunderstanding of ‘thick’ democracy. Factors that were found to facilitate democratic and citizenship education include: physical school and learning program design and; democratic school leadership.

scholarly journals Leadership, Inclusion, and Quality Education for All

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (01) ◽  
pp. 49-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Carter ◽  
Lindy-Anne Abawi
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Shared Vision ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Quality Education ◽  
Inclusive Practices ◽  
School Practices ◽  
Inclusive School ◽  
Multicultural School

The purpose of this research was to investigate leadership facilitating effective inclusive school practices. Data were collected from leaders at a complex multicultural school perceived by the system and local community as an inclusive school with a focus on quality education. A qualitative case study was used and data were collected over a 6-month period of immersion at the research site. Data included semistructured interviews with the head of special education and the school principal, observations of dialogical and behavioural data described within the lead researcher's reflective journal, and the documented operational structure of the school. The findings include insights into what the principal and head of special education believed inclusion to be, and how these leaders worked with staff to embed inclusive practices. The conclusion drawn from the study is that school leadership for inclusion involves making hard decisions. It is a complex and multifaceted act requiring consciously targeted effort, advocacy, and particular ways of leading. Inclusive practices need reinforcing by frequently articulated expectations, support, and acknowledgement that for all stakeholders inclusion is a constant journey toward a shared vision.

White Racism, Antiracism, and School Leadership Preparation

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 374-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle D. Young ◽  
Julie Laible
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
Educational Administration ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Educational Leaders ◽  
Leadership Preparation ◽  
Leadership Programs ◽  
White Racism ◽  
White School ◽  
Educational Administration Programs ◽  
Administration Programs

This article emerges from a belief that an overwhelming majority of White school leaders do not have a thorough enough understanding of White racism or the ways in which they are perpetuating White racism in their schools, even though most are well-meaning individuals. The lack of understanding or awareness of different forms of racism and how White racism works is highly problematic. Indeed, it has appalling consequences, detrimentally impacting the lives and dreams of millions of children. In this article, we draw from both literature and experience to argue for the incorporation of antiracism in school leadership programs. We begin with the assertion that because Educational Administration programs function as important agents of socialization for our future school leaders, White racism in all its manifestations must be confronted in these programs. After building the case that racism is enacted by teachers and administrators in schools and demonstrating the harmful effects of White racism on both children and adults, we argue that racism is not being adequately addressed in educational administration programs. Subsequently, we offer guidance to our readers for promoting antiracism among future educational leaders.

Spirituality, School Leadership, and Islam

2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 656-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anish Sayani
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
Educational Leaders ◽  
Moral Vision ◽  
Muslim Students ◽  
Meaning System

This article begins with two nonfiction narratives that are used throughout the article to defend and nuance the rationale for educational leaders to create dialogical spaces in schools for students to explore their spiritualities. The reasons for the inclusion of spirituality in schools are clustered into four categories for the sake of coherence: (1) moral vision, (2) linked aims and purposes, (3) meaning system, and (4) presence. It is argued that spirituality for some is inextricably connected to religion, which can pose a problem for educators and educational leaders, especially if the religion, such as Islam, is incorrectly associated with violence and terrorism. Finally misconceptions of Islam are addressed and ways are suggested that educational leaders can engage both Muslim and non-Muslim students in a meaningful dialogue about a spirituality rooted in Islam.

Perceptions of School Leadership: Implications for Principal Effectiveness

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Tosh ◽  
Christopher Doss
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
Principal Effectiveness ◽  
Perceptions Of School

scholarly journals Perceptions and Realities: The Role of School Psychologists in Melbourne, Australia

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry D. Bell ◽  
Vicki McKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
School Psychologists ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Work Practices ◽  
Job Functions ◽  
Teachers And Parents ◽  
Perceptions Of School ◽  
Models Of Service Delivery ◽  
Common Understanding

This article investigates the degree to which a consistent understanding of what psychologists do is present in a group of teachers and parents, and compares this with the job functions reported by psychologists themselves. Research on the role of school psychologists has focused on the perceptions of school staff in relation to ideal services, and has given little acknowledgment to the expectations of other clients of school psychologists, such as parents. Common understanding of the range and focus of services available from school psychologists would facilitate effective and appropriate referrals. Services are considered according to models of service delivery from systemic service to an individual case-based model. The current study involved 138 school psychologists, 107 parents, and 100 teachers from government, Catholic, and independent schools across Melbourne, Australia. Participants completed a number of measures, and significant differences between groups were found on 20 of the 30 items relating to school psychologists’ responsibilities (p < .001). Associations were also established between student–psychologist ratios and the work practices of school psychologists, specifically the frequency with which assessment (r = .35, p < .001) and counselling (r =−.25, p < .01) tasks were undertaken. It is concluded that service delivery would benefit by enhancing community understanding of the work of school psychologists. Analysis of work practices reflects that demand for assessment services tends to limit the development of systemic and preventative practices in the work of school psychologists.

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