Administrative Best Practice to Influence Culture in a Rural Middle School of Poverty

• In Event: Program Issues in Educational Leadership

Abstract

This purpose of this mixed-method case study is to identify what practices a principal employed to create a change in teacher’s perceptions that parallels an increase in student achievement at a rural middle school. The study was framed within the context of four domains of leadership gleaned from the distillation of the work of Leithwood, Schultz, Lewis, Murray, Riehl, Murray, Jantzi, and Whitaker and others. Findings indicate that that no single activity, program or strategy is effective in changing school culture. Rather, the findings suggest that educational leadership is a complex, multifaceted endeavor and that successful principals clearly articulate a vision for success, are visible in their schools, and provide support to teachers.

Authors

• David Nixon, Anderson School District 3

• Robert Charles Knoeppel, Clemson University