Learning Outside the University Classroom: How Principals Define and Prepare to Be Instructional Leaders

• In Event: 14.044 - Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: 14.044-11 - Leadership Development and Teaching

Abstract

Using an open-ended electronics survey, this qualitative study focused on the phenomenon of the instructional leadership aspect of the role of school leaders in a Rocky Mountain state. Principals in the study included teacher supervision and coaching, professional development, curriculum planning and implementation as their primary instructional leadership actions. Preparation for overall instructional leadership and specifically supervision and evaluation of teachers (including the use of assessment data) was attributed to professional development which occurred after the completion of the participants’ principal preparation program, followed by teaching and teacher leader experience as the most valuable preparation for instructional leadership. Preparation program coursework was identified by only 11% of participants as valuable to their instructional leadership practice.

Author

• Linda R. Vogel, University of Northern Colorado