As the nation faces a worsening shortage of qualified teachers, it becomes as important as ever for educational leaders to foster strong school environments in which faculty members devote their careers. Research shows that the cohesiveness of individuals within a group, like a school faculty, has the power to enhance member experiences and support the team in reaching their goals. Studies examining groups within a variety of fields identify personal, leader, group and environmental factors as contributing to the development of group cohesion. This study applies these theoretical models of group cohesion to the world of education, identifying the behaviors and characteristics of leaders, teachers, and the school environment that develop, maintain, and enhance the cohesiveness of a faculty.
Phenomenological interviews were conducted with seventeen teachers and thirteen principals to identify the factors that serve to influence cohesion best among a school faculty. The research produced five themes of behaviors and traits influencing cohesion including the presence a leader has in the school, the respect shown by a leader’s affect, the empowerment of staff, an investment in socialization, and the fostering of a culture for learning. Evidentiary quotes and examples directly from the lived experiences of study participants support each of these themes as impactful. The discussion of findings highlights the theoretical underpinnings of the themes, provides recommendations for future study, and equips school leaders with practical steps to consider in their daily work of developing healthy school environments for all staff. / Educational Leadership
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TEMPLE/oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/10230 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Bitz, Andrew, 0009-0006-2225-3246 |
| Contributors | Estrada, Armando X., McGinley, Christopher W., Brandt, Carol B., Brooks, Wanda M., 1969- |
| Publisher | Temple University. Libraries |
| Source Sets | Temple University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation, Text |
| Format | 143 pages |
| Rights | IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | http://dx.doi.org/10.34944/dspace/10192, Theses and Dissertations |
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