Using Data to Inform Practice: Effective Principal Leadership Strategies

• In Event: It’s the Principal of the Matter

Abstract

Research on effective data use regularly states the importance of the principal in fostering data use for educational improvement, but research is also clear that many principals do not employ many leadership strategies that will help their faculties use data. Thus, there is a need to understand more about which principal strategies are effective in leading faculties for using data and how to scale these strategies such that all principals may employ them. In this study, we will provide a detailed analysis of data-related principal leadership strategies in three districts. Further, we will examine these findings in light of prior research to provide discussion of the types of leadership strategies that may improve principal leadership for using data.

Authors

• Jeff Wayman, Wayman Services, LLC

• Stephen Douglas Spring, The University of Texas

• Melinda Anne Lemke, The University of Texas - Austin

• Meghan Dwyer Lehr, The University of Texas - Austin