Leadership Activities and Student Behavioral/Emotional Outcomes Across Traditional and Community Schools

• In Event: Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Relating School Organization and Practice to Educational Outcomes

Abstract

Research has identified school principals as critical factors influencing school performance and student outcomes. However, there exists a need to pinpoint characteristics that discern effective principals from their ineffective peers by investigating the activities of principals across various settings. The present study examined differences between community and traditional schools in leadership activities and relevant student behavioral/emotional outcomes using an innovative event sampling methodology. Overall, the results indicated that community and traditional schools were similar in terms of principal leadership activities and student behavioral/emotional outcomes. Time spent on administration was associated with the best behavioral and emotional outcomes; however, when school leaders spent more time on non-school related activities, their students reported higher levels of behavioral and emotional difficulties.

Authors

• Bridget V. Dever, Lehigh University

• Craig Dennis Hochbein, Lehigh University

• George White, Lehigh University