Date of Award

2011

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Boyd, Robert

Abstract

The intent of this study was to determine if there were differences among Indiana public high school principals, Indiana public school superintendents, and Indiana public school board presidents about the personal characteristics and professional skills that define effective superintendents. In order to effectively determine such characteristics and skills, research and literature were reviewed; input from practicing Indiana public high school principals, Indiana public school superintendents, and Indiana public school board presidents was sought; and a survey was conducted. A generalization was made from the sample to the population regarding how each of these groups defined superintendent effectiveness. Current research and literature was reviewed in order to develop a survey instrument intended to obtain the desired input from the sample. The components of the survey were divided into two categories: personal characteristics and professional skills. The content or specific items for the survey were created for the survey from the complete list of items which were identified through the current literature in three or more sources. Based on the set criteria, the current literature facilitated the production of a survey with 14 personal characteristics and 22 professional skills. Two research questions were formulated for the study. Question one and question two were analyzed statistically through Null Hypothesis One and Null Hypothesis Two. For each null hypothesis, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine significance. The level of significance established for this study was .05. Descriptive data were also utilized to answer both research questions. Study findings showed public high school principals valued the personal characteristic of charismatic significantly higher than public school board presidents. In addition, it was concluded public high school principals valued the professional skill of serves as a child advocate significantly higher than public school board presidents, and high school principals also valued empowers/develops others significantly higher than public school board presidents. However, school board presidents valued able to meet major mandates significantly higher than high school principals in defining effective superintendents. It was also concluded that superintendents valued the professional skill of develops positive relations with board members significantly higher than public school board presidents. Yet, public school board presidents valued the professional skill of able to meet major mandates significantly higher than public school superintendents. The emerging views of leadership, along with the current unique societal, political, and economic climate demand that careful attention be placed on the personal characteristics and professional skills that define an effective superintendent. Using such information from the study for recruiting, selecting, training, and retaining effective superintendents will be important. Bringing focus to such difficult tasks as those described in the study could be very helpful in multiple ways.

Download

Share

COinS