<p> The primary purpose of this research was to test the capability of the Organizational Change in Cultural Context (OC³) Model (Latta, 2009, 2011) to predict responses to change. According to Latta, predictions of resistance to or facilitation of change can be predicted by utilizing organizational culture and its alignment with the content and implementation strategies of the change. The setting for this research was a small elementary school in western Pennsylvania during implementation of a reform model known as Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTII). This qualitative study: 1) investigated the culture of the school using Martin&rsquo;s (1992, 2002) three perspective framework; 2) analyzed the content and implementation strategies associated with implanting the RTII change initiative; 3) made predictions based upon the interaction effects specified by Latta&rsquo;s (2011) OC³ Model with the assistance of a panel of experts; and 4) evaluated those predictions using self-report data from participants at the target institution and members of the implementation team. </p>

<p> Principals in rural schools lead with an awareness of multiple contingent factors that influence their decisions every day regarding programming for students. The purpose of this research is to examine how rural elementary school principals conceptualize programs in their schools, the processes used to connect students to these programs, and their leadership role in doing so. Through the lens of contingency theory, this qualitative research study informs the research regarding contextual variables that influence principals' decisions as they program for students.</p><p> Three research questions provided the frame through which to examine the ways that principals conceptualize the benefit of programs in their school buildings, as well as the ways that they negotiate the environment and obligate resources based on student needs and outside influences. A purposeful sample of 11 principals working at rural elementary schools in a mid-Atlantic state participated in this study. A basic qualitative design provided the framework for interpreting the interview data collected. </p><p> Major findings of this study indicated that principals were more apt to introduce a new program to their building if it was one they had had experience with before. If they did not consider the program beneficial, they were less apt to support it in their building. In addition, principals and school teams used formal and informal assessment data to make decisions regarding student programming. Principals obligated human resources in multiple ways in order to meet the programming needs of their students, but funding, regulations, and curricular and testing demands influenced their programming decisions. In addition, teacher "burn-out" and limited time in the school day were all areas of concern.</p><p> Nationally, public schools receive billions of dollars in federal, state, and local funding for the purpose of student programming. Policy makers write policy from an urban-centric viewpoint. This viewpoint forces rural principals to interpret the policy in creative ways to ensure it meets the needs of their students. This study provides insight as to how rural principals interpret policy in order to utilize resources to program for students. This study also examines the contexts that influence their programming decisions.</p>

<p> Similar to staffing patterns in public school systems, the majority of faculty employed in the 1,174 National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) member schools are women, suggesting that school leadership pipelines are filled with female faculty, along with middle- and senior-level administrators who demonstrate daily their executive leadership capacity. Yet women remain unable to achieve access to head of school leadership positions at a rate equal to their male colleagues. Utilizing qualitative research methods and the lens of post-structuralist feminist theory, this phenomenological study examines the gendered nature of leadership roles in independent schools and the ways this cultural phenomenon informs the strategies used by African American and White women seeking mentor-prot&eacute;g&eacute; relationships, networks of support, and sponsorship from "recognized" independent school leaders. Utilizing a feminist framework to examine the cultural context that informs women's leadership preparation (Olesen, 1994, 2003), semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 participants whose lived experience as independent school leaders and/or as executive search consultants for independent schools illuminated points of tension between settled and unsettled periods in the lives of aspiring women leaders and explored the strategies of action (Swindler, 1986) used to negotiate points of discursive disjunction (Chase, 1995, 2003). This study contributes to the present discourse regarding the role gender plays in the normalization of independent school leadership, proposes questions for further inquiry, and suggests strategies of action for independent school communities, trustees, and professional organizations to use when crafting policy, planning leadership training/development, and succession planning that addresses gender disproportionality.</p>

<p> This quantitative investigation focused on women high school principals at Jewish secular schools throughout Israel. Despite challenges, Israeli women have succeeded in obtaining over half of the principal positions at Jewish secular high schools, but the degree to which there is equal gender access to leadership roles in the school system remains unclear. This study examined whether there was clustering of women in high school principal positions in certain geographical areas, the process by which these women obtained principal positions, what obstacles the women overcame, and an analysis if respondents differed by district in terms of their career paths, career breaks, and military experiences. This study showed that although women are in principal positions in equal or greater numbers as men depending on the region, women had a different path than men to obtain this role. The key findings in this research were that 89.5% of women principals were able to return at the same level prior to taking a career break and that 31.8% of female principals had male mentors. </p>

<p> The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if classroom configuration&mdash;departmentalized and self-contained&mdash;is related to the academic achievement of Grade 6 students in a large urban school district as measured by California Standards Test (CST) scores in mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) when controlling for prior academic achievement, language, and gender. To this end, existing CST scale scores for the years 2010-2012 were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regressions which allowed the researcher to determine the unique contribution classroom configuration contributed to student achievement. A 22-item researcher-designed questionnaire was also distributed to Grade 6 teachers (n=36) in the participating school district to capture teacher perceptions regarding what type of classroom configuration is best for Grade 6 students.</p><p> Three conclusions based on the findings were drawn. First, classroom configuration had no meaningful impact on student achievement in English Language Arts as measured by the CST. Second, classroom configuration had no meaningful impact on student achievement in math as measured by the CST. Third, departmentalized teachers did not differ significantly on opinions of the instructional benefits of each configuration when compared to self-contained teachers.</p><p> This study presented several implications for practitioners and researchers. One implication is student achievement is due to a variety of factors; therefore, factors outside of classroom configuration must be examined to determine what school level factors best predict student achievement. Quality of instruction most likely makes more of a difference than any structural element. Also, schools should make classroom configuration decisions based on local factors such as student needs and teacher qualifications.</p><p> Conclusions are inconsistent with some studies aimed at determining the impact of classroom configuration on student achievement indicating further research on the topic is needed. With the current shift in education to Common Core standards and assessments, the study should be repeated in different settings using the same instrument to measure student achievement as this method might provide more consistent findings. Future studies that measure teacher efficacy may also explain more of the variance in student achievement. </p>

<p>Education leaders have turned to alternative schools and classroom settings for help as students continue to fail classes and fall behind in acquiring the required units for graduation. Alternative programs, such as Opportunity Education, help at-risk students make academic progress, recover graduation units, learn appropriate classroom behavior, reintegrate into the comprehensive high school setting, and graduate from a comprehensive high school. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of participation in the Opportunity Program on student academic success. Data included graduation units recovered, graduation requirements met in the comprehensive or alternative setting, attendance rates, and length of time spent in alternative education. Findings indicate that students in the Opportunity program did not recover sufficient graduation units while enrolled but did improve daily school attendance during and after exit from the program. The majority of students enrolled in the Opportunity program did not return to the comprehensive high school setting, sustain academic progress, or graduate on time with their four-year cohort. At-risk factors continued to influence students' academic progress after intervention. </p>

<p> This study examined selected community stakeholders' perception of the current leadership at their local community educational learning center during an organizational transformation and cultural change process. The transition from a community college to an educational learning center, mandated in 2006 by the Accredition Commission and agreed on by the Chancellor's office, was facilitated by a community college of another district. This process appeared to produce mixed reactions from various educational learning center constituency groups. During the transformational process, opinions how the institutional leadership addressed the task of developing a trusting and meaningful relationship with community stakeholders surfaced. Based on the survey responses gathered from selected community stakeholders from various community-based organizations, this study identified prevalent perceptions regarding the current educational learning center's leadership. </p><p> Previously, there has been no research examining how community stakeholders feel about the current leadership, state take-over, and partnership phenomena born out of a college district losing its accreditation. Therefore, while researching how satisfied selected community stakeholders were with the current leadership under these unique circumstances, this study also offered an in-depth look at college operations, accreditation expectations, and community relations. The majority of stakeholders surveyed were generally concerned about the current type of leadership at their local educational learning center, and the manner in which the state take-over and partnership impacted the subject community college district stakeholders during the organizational transformation and cultural change process. </p><p> While focusing on a transformational leadership theoretical framework, this dissertation revealed that generally, stakeholders had opinions that indicated they were not completely satisfied with the manner in which the organizational transformation and cultural change process is being conducted. The results of this study showed that community stakeholders were primarily dissatisfied with the type of leadership strategy facilitated during the transformational process; the manner in which communication is facilitated to the community and the quality of course program offerings. Opinions varied regarding campus services, facilities access and conditions. In the final chapter of this dissertation recommendations are offered to improve public and community relations under the unique circumstances of an organizational transformation and cultural change process of an urban community college.</p>

<p> This qualitative multi-case study explored the perceptions and beliefs of teachers of students in Grade 9 and 10, at a high school in south-central New Jersey, who taught traditional classroom courses that incorporated technology, regarding their lived experiences delivering homebound instruction for the same curriculum. Technology used in the classroom was compared to the use or lack of use of technology in the homebound setting. Similarities and differences were identified in instructional design, as well as teacher perceptions of efficiency and effectiveness for the student. The study revealed a disparity between the classroom instruction using technology and the homebound instructional setting. Five specific insights for leadership emerged from this study. The insights include (a) providing technology for the homebound instructor; (b) increase parental involvement in homebound instruction; (c) increase the amount of time for homebound instruction; (d) educate instructors in instructional technologies; and (e) to provide the homebound student with time management and organizational skills. These insights are helpful for recommending steps organizational leaders can take to increase the effectiveness of homebound instruction.</p>

<p> Contemporary high school reforms are centered on small school size as an approach to ameliorate disengagement and underachievement of minority and economically disadvantaged students in urban comprehensive high schools. A common strategy is to reconfigure high schools into smaller subunits known as Small Learning Communities (SLCs). Although widespread research on SLCs has found this reform promising in helping educators increase students' sense of belonging in school, studies have revealed varying outcomes on the impact of SLC implementation in improving student achievement.</p><p> Using Invitational Theory as a theoretical framework, a single case study was utilized to examine the perceptions of faculty members and school leaders regarding strategies implemented within SLCs to improve student engagement and academic achievement. This study investigated an urban high school that demonstrated 4 years of sustained growth in student engagement (i.e., attendance, suspension, and graduation rates) and academic achievement (i.e., standardized test scores) through SLC implementation. This study underscored the promise of SLC implementation as a viable approach to increase students' sense of belonging in school and address achievement disparities among minority and economically disadvantaged students.</p><p> The findings pointed to an intentional vision and effort among professionals as the impetus for developing SLCs that summon students to recognize their unbounded potential. Furthermore, the findings corroborated the importance of several strategies found in the literature that foster a sense of community between students and adults and professional communities among staff. Recommendations are provided for policy and practice to sustain the efficacy of SLC implementation in urban high schools.</p>

<p> School districts face enormous challenges with recent reductions in fiscal resources due to cuts in California's state budget and an average tenure for a school superintendent of only 3 years. School boards are challenged to find a leader who can address the needs of the school district during these difficult times. As numerous school superintendents are retiring, and a new generation of educators is applying for key positions in educational leadership, it is important to better understand the perceptions of school board presidents who have experience in selecting a school superintendent.</p><p> This study explored the perceptions of the superintendent selection process of five participating school board presidents. The participants in this study shared their perceptions of the superintendent search process and selection criteria, perceptions on the most important leadership characteristics desired in a superintendent, and perceptions in the standards used to measure leadership in the candidates selected as superintendent.</p><p> The findings revealed several components of the selection process that will serve school boards in evaluating the best strategy for them in conducting the superintendent search. When school boards embark on the process of selecting a superintendent, their actions become very public and ultimately reflect on how they view community involvement and input into on-going district leadership. As a result, a well-defined plan of action will reflect well on the school board, build community trust, and set the stage for a positive transition to new leadership at the superintendent level. The assertion that selecting a superintendent may very well be the school board's most important duty of action, it is imperative that such a process be articulated and integrated within the scope of district need and community involvement.</p>