The two research questions of the study were: (1) Is the job satisfaction of school district administrators related to the personal factors of group membership and sex? (2) What are the sources of overall job satisfaction? Do they confirm findings from previous studies in which autonomy, responsibility, the work itself, growth, recognition, feedback, achievement, and interpersonal relationships were found to be major contributors to job satisfaction? Utilizing the Job Diagnostic Survey (JDS) developed by Hackman and Oldham and free response questions, ratings of job satisfaction were obtained to determine if sex and group membership (elementary principal, secondary principal and vice principal, or central office administrator) made a difference in the level of job satisfaction. The findings from the two research questions were: (1) Group membership and sex do not significantly relate to job satisfaction. (2) Approximately 22% of job satisfaction for administrators was attributed to autonomy and feedback from the work itself. Data gathered from the free response questions did reveal some differences in the sources of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction according to group membership. The main sources of satisfaction--regardless of group membership--involved the work itself, achievement, and interpersonal relationships. Recognition was also seen as a source of satisfaction at the central office and secondary level. Student performance and interaction was seen as a primary source of satisfaction at the elementary and secondary level. Autonomy was a main source of satisfaction at both the elementary and central office level. The main sources of dissatisfaction--regardless of group membership--involved amount of work, lack of feedback, constraints, and administrative policies. While interpersonal relationships were seen as sources of satisfaction by 25% of those responding administrators in central office positions, 60% of the responding administrators identified them as sources of dissatisfaction. The findings of this study imply that boards of education and upper-echelon administrators should be aware of the motivational potential in the two factors of autonomy and feedback and in the identified areas of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Opportunities which allow for greater administrator autonomy and feedback should be expanded in order to increase job satisfaction.

The purpose of this study was to identify principal staff development needs as perceived by principals and superintendents in select Indiana school districts. Need ratings were analyzed by comparing superintendent and principal rating in eight categories of potential needs; "Instructional Leadership and Curriculum," "Community and Public Relations," "Personal Awareness," "School Management," "Personnel Management," "Student Rapport," "Principalship," and "Administrative Organization and Planning." The potential influence of five demographic variables: "Size of School District," "Levels of Graduate Education," "Grade Levels of Assignment," "Membership in Professional Organizations," and "Years' Experiences in School Administration," on principal ratings was also examined. Data were collected from30 superintendents and 181 principals employed in the 30 randomly selected school districts. Data were collected via a survey containing 76 items divided into eight categories. Data were analyzed using an analysis of variance, and research decisions were based on the .05 level of significance.In general, demographic variables incorporated in this study appeared to have little effect on principal ratings. There were three exceptions: (a) level of assignment (type of school) was found to be significant for ratings in the category of "Community and Public Relations," (b) level of assignment (type of school) was found to be significant for ratings in the category of "School Management," and (c) level of memberships in professional organizations was found to be significant for ratings in the category of "School Management."Findings in this study suggested that there was much common ground in principal ratings of their own staff development needs and the ratings provided by superintendents. Hence, the potential for planning programs that address both organizational and personal needs appeared to be high. Additionally, outcomes suggested that practitioner perceptions of principal staff development needs are not affected to any great extent by demographic variables. Additional research examining why principal needs are often ignored in staff development programs was recommended. / Department of Educational Leadership

This investigation seeks to determine the administrator's attitudes toward education for leisure taught through the education process as it prepares the youth of today for the use of their leisure time. A 26-question questionnaire was mailed to 100 administrators, Descriptive data was requested to aid the Chi-square analysis at the .05 level performed on each question, A 74-percent return was received. The administrators expressed a favorable attitude toward education for leisure. The present degree held by the administrators did have a significant relationship to their expressed attitudes. It is recommended that classes specifically related to education for leisure be included in the school curriculum.

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Historically, education in the United States has been tailored to fulfill the needs of White students. As the Latina/o population increases in the United States, we must prepare teachers and school administrators to provide opportunities for an equal education for minority students of all races, cultural backgrounds, or ethnicities. School leadership plays an important role in the effectiveness of educational access for minority students. Leaders must review and modify their practices to ensure that minority students have the opportunity to be productive citizens in our society. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the characteristics of effective high school Leaders of Color and White leaders for Latina/o students in secondary schools and to provide recommendations for further investigation. This study revealed findings related to culturally responsive school leadership for Latina/o student success, with leaders of Color and White allies reporting different perspectives on equity leadership.

No previous study has attempted to clarify and articulate administrator attitudes regarding DNR orders in the school setting. Administrative school staff are responsible for development and implementation of school policy therefore understanding administrators' attitudes would assist discussion and decision making related to DNR orders in the school setting.

The purpose of this study was to discover how ethnicity, gender, and mentoring influenced the career experiences of Jamaican administrators in Sunshine County Public Schools (SCPS), a pseudonym that was used for a large public school district in Florida. This qualitative, phenomenological study focused on the career experiences of eight Jamaican administrators in SCPS. Seven of the participants were all native-born Jamaicans and one was a first generation Jamaican, born in England to Jamaican parents and raised in Jamaica until the age of 14. The researcher gained this understanding by interviewing participants in-depth about how their Jamaican ethnicity, gender, and personal mentoring experiences impacted their personal and professional journey as administrators in SCPS. Findings and conclusions will inform mentoring and educational leadership literature on strategies for success geared toward this understudied population. / by Denise P. Barrett-Johnson. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

"Dec 2003." / Thesis (Ed.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 224-246). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Parental involvement plays an essential role in the United States (U.S.) educational system. However, parental involvement poses many challenges for Hmong parents in American schools. Many assumptions are made on the parts of teachers, staff, and Hmong parents about parents' roles pertaining to their involvement in their children's education. Hmong parents struggle to reconcile beliefs, attitudes, and values that they bring with them from Laos with the expectations found in the U.S. due to their unfamiliarity with the U.S. educational system. This study employed the used a qualitative, descriptive case study approach to examine the perceptions of Hmong parents involvement at a K-6 Hmong American charter school in Northern California. The primary data collection method used in this study was interviews with four school-community stakeholder groups. The purposeful-selected interview participants included two administrators, four teachers, six parents, and four students. The interviews were dialogically coded and nine themes were developed related to parental involvement. These nine themes were: communication with parents, committee involvement, flexibility of staff, enrichment programs non-traditional school schedule, importance of field trips, cultural events and presence of other cultures, recommend school to others, and positive behavioral reinforcement. The study concludes with a presentation of the implications of the nine themes on the design of parent involvement models and recommendations are offered related to policies and connected strategies for how to design culturally relevant supports for parent involvement in education.