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Sammanfattning Skolan i Sverige ska vara likvärdig, men det är den inte idag. Det finns skolor i utanförskapsområden som har stora utmaningar och som har haft låg måluppfyllelse under en längre tid. Men det finns också skolledare som har tagit över ledningsrollen på lågpresterande skolor i utanförskapsområden och lyckats omvandla dem. Vi har intervjuat några av dem som har berättat om deras upplevelser och erfarenheter. Skolledarna beskriver att de har lyckats omvandla skolorna genom transparent och tydlig kommunikation, och en förändringsprocess som genomsyras av tydlig och inkluderande ledarskap. De har även berättat hur de har aktivt arbetat med att förändra elevers inställning till skolan och även krävt att skolpersonalen ställt högre krav både på sig själva och eleverna. Skolledarna har skildrat en stegvis förändringsprocess som förespråkas av skolforskningen.    Nyckelord Skolomvandling,  Skolledarskap, Skolförbättring, / The school in Sweden should be equal, but it is not today. There are schools in outlying areas in the cities that have major challenges and that have had low goal fulfillment for a long time. But there are also school leaders who have taken over the leadership role of low-performing schools in areas of exclusion and managed to transform them into better schools. We have interviewed some of those who have told us about their experiences. The school leaders describe that they have succeeded in transforming the schools through transparent and clear communication, and a process of change that is permeated by clear and inclusive leadership. They have also told how they have actively worked to change the students attitude towards the school and also demanded that the school staff make higher demands on both themselves and the students. The school leaders have described a step-by-step process of change that is advocated by school research.  Keywords School Turnaround, School Leadership, School Improvement.

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There were several purposes to this study using a Spearman Rho correlation mixed method design. The first aim of this study was to address notable themes about science engagement from school leaders and science writing. The second purpose was to determine how postsecondary students' description of student engagement in elementary K-6 science classrooms correlate with students' writing quality. The final purpose of this study focused on a call for guidance to determine how students’ ratings of engagement from various teaching models, strategies, and techniques during elementary K-6 science activities correlate with students’ writing quality. Data were collected in the study using two instruments consisting of a survey and writing quality samples. The participants completed the Post-Secondary Survey of Science Engagement-Elementary Version (PSSSE-EV) survey and a college writing sample assignment from an introductory biochemistry course. The results of this study demonstrated postsecondary biochemistry students' memories of their elementary science engagement and college writing quality sample had no significant correlation between students' K-6 science engagement. Results also indicate the principals and assistant principals have no direct involvement in leading the students to engage in elementary K-6 science classroom engagement. Finally, results from the themes that emerged from the participants’ writing samples indicated students' inspiration and motivation to further their education in a science related field emerged. It also revealed that students who became involved in science did so because of their own efforts and encouragement of great teachers as leaders.

The purpose of this study was to measure the extent to which school leaders who completed the preparing new principals program in School District A perceived the program’s effectiveness in preparing them to demonstrate Florida’s principal leadership standards as adopted in November 2011. This study also identified the components of the preparing new principals program that influenced the professional practice of the program completers in their current leadership roles within School District A. This study was conducted at the request of the professional development services designee in School District A and is a companion study to research conducted by Eddie Ruiz and Wesley Trimble. The Preparing New Principals Program Completer Survey was sent to 90 administrators in School District A who completed the preparing new principals program between 2008 and 2011. Follow-up interviews were conducted with six volunteers in order to further clarify responses to the survey and to gather additional input from program completers. Survey results as well as interview data were analyzed in order to give the professional development services designee information for designing a new principal preparation program for School District A. The literature review and the results of this study supported the premise that preparing principals for school leadership in 2013 involves more than developing management skills and knowledge of the functions of a school. Principals must be instructional leaders with an unwavering focus on student achievement. Overall, results of the study found the PNPP in the urban school district supported the participant’s awareness of the FPLS and also showed they perceived they were prepared to demonstrate the majority of the standards. However, the individual requirements and experiences of the PNPP had varying levels of perceived value to iii the professional practice of the participants. Results of the study recommended the PNPP experiences perceived to be invaluable or not practical should be evaluated for applicability, revised accordingly or possibly eliminated to improve the effectiveness of the PNPP. Although the structure of principal preparation programs in the state of Florida are unique due to laws that created a two leveled principal certification process, the findings and conclusions of this research study could be useful to any school district working to develop future principals. Suggested improvements to the PNPP included a longer principal internship, a strengthened mentor relationship, an application process for initial program entry, differentiated experiences, and an emphasis on increasing teacher effectiveness

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The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the attitude toward mathematics, including related mathematics anxiety, and the frequency of classroom observations of mathematics lessons by elementary school administrators. This study considered Approach-Avoidance Motivation as part of the conceptual framework guiding the research. Approach-avoidance motivation refers to a person's approach of tasks that are pleasant or enjoyable and avoidance of tasks that are disliked or not enjoyable. This research sought to answer the questions: 1. What is the academic background in mathematics of elementary school administrators? 2. What is the attitude toward mathematics of elementary school administrators? 3. What is the frequency of classroom observations of mathematics lessons by elementary school administrators? 4. What, if any, is the relationship between the attitude toward mathematics, including related mathematics anxiety, and the frequency of classroom observations of mathematics lessons by elementary school administrators? The participants in this study included elementary school principals and assistant principals in one school division in Virginia. Data were collected to investigate the mathematics background, attitude toward mathematics, and frequency of classroom observations of mathematics lessons by elementary school administrators. This study also examined the possible relationship between the attitude toward mathematics, including related mathematics anxiety, and the frequency of classroom observations of mathematics lessons. The attitude toward mathematics, including related mathematics anxiety, was found to have no relationship with the frequency of both formal and informal classroom observations of mathematics lessons conducted. The sample population data indicated positive attitudes toward mathematics and low levels of mathematics anxiety, which conflicts with some previous research (Dorward and Hadley, 2011; Hembree, 1990). The mathematics background of participants was found to be limited in the number of mathematics courses completed and teaching licensure endorsements specific to mathematics instruction. The findings provide educational leaders with relevant research related to attitude toward mathematics and the instructional leadership practice of observing mathematics classrooms. Central office and school leaders could benefit from explicit expectations relating to the observation of mathematics lessons in schools. / Ed. D.

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of principals from around the world regarding the perceived skill set necessary for success before, during, and after the coronavirus pandemic. While many school facilities closed during the public health crisis, the learning continued. During the pandemic, educational leaders were tasked with creating environments that allowed students to thrive academically, behaviorally, and emotionally from beyond the classroom walls. By identifying the perceived skill set required to lead an effective school building before and then during the pandemic, a greater understanding of the future of education can be ascertained. The study involved interviewing fourteen school leaders from around the world (seven from the United States and seven internationally). The interview questions probed the perceived necessary skills for the functioning of successful school buildings prior to, during, and then after the coronavirus pandemic. The outcome of the study provides opportunities for school leaders and human resource personnel to identify characteristics essential for success in a world changed by the global pandemic. By analyzing the perceptions of necessary skills to lead successful schools during the coronavirus crisis through a comparative approach, a dedication of resources for improving the quality of the leadership within school buildings moving forward can be adapted. / Doctor of Education / The global coronavirus health crisis greatly impacted schools, learning, and leadership. Through a comparative approach, we have an opportunity to learn from each other and make crucial changes moving forward to garner more success. The influence of comparative education on school leadership preparation was identified in the review of literature. American and international school leaders who were impacted by the coronavirus was the specific area the researcher focused on for this study. This qualitative study focused on the perceptions of school leaders on the skills necessary for success before, during, and then after the health crisis. Data was collected through the interviews of fourteen school leaders (seven from the United States and seven from around the world). Through this study, the researcher identified seven findings and four implications. One limitation for this study was the small sample size. A suggestion for future research would be to investigate how important the vision of a school building is to the overall leadership attributes by interviewing the leadership teams and then the teachers they serve to discover if there is alignment by triangulating student assessment data, staff climate surveys, and student climate surveys.