Strength in Numbers: A Qualitative Study of the Cohort Experience of a Catholic School Leadership Development Program

• In Event: Catholic Institutional Responses to Mission, Standards, and Contexts

Abstract

There is evidence that Catholic schools can effectively serve underserved student populations. However, Catholic schools struggle to remain open under principals who are often unprepared to lead their schools. This affects all Catholic school students, including those underserved students benefitting from a Catholic education. The idea of the dreams of education present in the theme of this year’s AERA Meeting compels us to address these problems. To improve the leadership outcomes of Catholic School leaders, the ... at ... founded the ..., a 20-month professional development program grounded on three professional development domains. Using a longitudinal survey design, this paper presents one cohort’s progress towards achieving the program’s leadership outcomes.

Authors

• Eric Michael Williamson, Boston College

• Kristin Melley, Boston College

• Samuel Racine, Boston College

• Cristina Joan Hunter, Boston College