An Examination of High School Principals and the Influences That Supported Their Leadership Capacity
Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Department
Educational Leadership
First Advisor
Marty Martinez, Ed.D.
First Committee Member
Laura Aguada-Hallberg, Ed.D.
Second Committee Member
Fred Estes, Ed.D.
Abstract
Research indicates that high school principals play a crucial role in a school’s success by shaping its culture, influencing teacher retention, and impacting student attendance and academic performance. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the phenomenon of the lived experiences of high school principals, understand their perceptions of the influences that supported developing their leadership capacity, and identify the barriers that prevented them from developing their capacity to lead. This study investigated the experiences of eight high school principals in California to understand their perceptions of the influences that factored into developing and sustaining their leadership capacity.
This study examined high school principals and their efforts to develop leadership skills. Participants, who identified as leaders, discussed the distinction between managing and leading, and shared how they consciously decided when to lead versus manage. They described the role as demanding and highlighted that most people are not prepared for the principalship, facing both internal and external challenges that impacted their leadership development. The findings suggest that while high school principals are often intrinsically motivated, this alone is not enough to prevent burnout, underscoring the need for more support in building leadership capacity in California’s high school principals
Pages
158
Recommended Citation
Beeson, Jodiann. (2024). An Examination of High School Principals and the Influences That Supported Their Leadership Capacity. University of the Pacific, Dissertation. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/4282
Included in
Educational Leadership Commons, Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration Commons, Secondary Education Commons
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