This study is divided into three sections. The first researches the techniques used to train and develop top-level business and corporate executives. The second part researches the techniques used to train the elementary and secondary school principal. The third part applies the findings to design a program by which school principals may be trained to lead their school as a top-level executive would their business or corporation.

There is no abstract available for this dissertation.

Doctor of Education / Department of Educational Leadership / Jeffrey Zacharakis / Abstract Public educational leaders are being scrutinized because of scandals that range from embezzlement, cheating on high stake exams for future bonuses, to viewing pornography on school technology. The need for ethical leadership by the superintendent along with moral judgment on decision-making is reflected in the foundation of public educational organizations. The purpose of this quantitative research study is to explore the stage of moral judgment among public school superintendents when faced with moral dilemmas. Also, this research explores whether there is an association between certain demographic variables (enrollment, gender, salary, age, ethical training, total years experience as an administrator, years as a superintendent, highest degree, and place or work,) and moral judgment of the superintendent. The primary question guiding this study is: In the states of Kansas and Nebraska, what is the stage of moral judgment of superintendents when making decisions pertaining to moral dilemmas? The population chosen for this study is the public school superintendents in Kansas and Nebraska. The superintendents completed an online Defining Issues Test 2 (DIT2) questionnaire to assess their cognitive moral development score called the N2 index. The DIT2 is based upon Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of moral development. The secondary objective is to examine the relationship between moral judgment and demographic variables. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, t test, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis, and stepwise regression. The researcher sent the online DIT2 instrument electronically to all 514 superintendents. Of the 514 superintendents, 129 completed enough of the survey. Out of the 129, four participants did not provide any demographic data, which brought the total to 125 participants. The superintendents mean N2 index score was 32.28. This put them at the same level of upper high school and first and second year undergraduate students (Bebeau & Thoma, 2003). Using ANOVA to analyze the data from this study indicates that enrollment size and gender significantly influenced superintendents’ stage of moral judgment. Stepwise regression analysis was then indicated that salary was also significantly associated with moral judgment of superintendents. The other variables - years of experience as an administrator, age, ethical training, years as superintendent, highest educational degree and place of work - provided no statistically significant influence on the moral judgment of superintendents. From this study’s findings, recommendations are offered to strengthen educational leadership and moral judgment of school superintendents.

This study investigated relationships between literacy level and global self concept employment status income level, age and gender among students enrolled at a vocational technical college. The contribution of a subset of job-related reading self concepts to the multiple correlation was also examined.Method The study sample consisted of 100 students in Related Education Courses at Indiana Vocational Technical College, Region VI, Muncie, Indiana. Subjects responded to three instruments and a demographic questionnaire. The Literacy Assessment Battery (Sticht. 1982) provided literacy levels, the Tennessee Self Concept Scale (Fitts. 1964) yielded global self concept, and the Hays Job-Related Reading Survey (Hays, 1986) indicated job-related reading self concepts.Piloting of Hays Job-Related Reading Survey Reliability and construct validity were sought using responses from a sample (N = 230) closely comparable to one selected for the study. An analysis revealed four interpretable factors: (a) Positive Employee Self, (b) Perceived Limitations of Self, (c) Perceived Importance of Occupational Literacy, and (d) Perceived Value of Company Notices. Further analysis yielded coefficient alpha reliabilities of r = .69 to r = .86.Results Significant relationships were found between literacy level and the following: (a) Global Self Concept (r = .20, p<.04:; (b) Global Self Concept when combined with Perceived Limitations of Self, a factor from the Hays Job Related Reading Survey (r = .56. p<.000+); and (c) Perceived Limitations of Self alone (r = .56, P<.000+). Conclusions Both Global Self Concept and Perceived Limitations of Self were significantly related to Literacy, both singly and in combination. The "best" (most efficient) predictor of Literacy Level could be gained by Perceived Limitations of Self alone.Recommendations Additional research with adults is needed to confirm the findings and expand established research younger ages. Educational suggestions focus on at strengthening self concepts and occupational literacy of adults pursuing vocational training. Business should foster occupational literacy self concepts and employer-employee relationships in the workplace. Economic implications involved public and private sector support for long-term occupational literacy and job-related reading self concept programs which may yield more effective, productive employees.

The purpose of this study was to examine moral judgment of public school superintendents in Texas when faced with moral dilemmas. The Defining Issues Test-2 was used to measure levels of moral judgment. A demographic survey was also used in order to examine the relationship between moral judgment levels and certain demographic variables. A stratified random sample of all public school superintendents based on district size were surveyed. Surveys were mailed to 200 small districts, 100 medium districts, and 50 large districts. A total of 104 superintendents participated in this study. T-test for independent samples, one-way analysis of variance, and linear regression were used for purposes of data analysis. An alpha level of .05 was used as the level of significance. Data were entered and manipulated using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software. Results of the study indicated no statistically significant relationship existed between the superintendent’s moral judgment level and certain demographic variables using t-test and analysis of variance measures. However, results from the linear regression showed that four of the independent variable subgroups contributed to moral judgment levels. The four independent variable subgroups were respondents who had served 16-20 years as a superintendent, who had served 16-20 years in his or her current district, who had a salary in the $50,000-$74,999 range, and whose ethnicity was Hispanic.

"A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in candidacy for the degree of Master of arts, Department of education." / At head of title: University of Chicago. "Bibliography": leaf 80.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 1968. / Title from title page screen, viewed Aug. 18, 2004. Dissertation Committee: Elwood F. Egelston (chair), Arthur Larsen, David Janovy, Gary Ramseyer, Benjamin Hubbard, G. Alan Hickrod. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-165). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Lehigh University, 2003. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-165).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 104 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-98).