District Leadership Development Program Investing in School Principals

• In Event: 34.024 - Preparing and Supporting School Leaders in Multiple Contexts

Abstract

This study provides a contribution to research regarding specific components a district leadership development program may incorporate into its curriculum in order to positively influence school principals’ effectiveness as school leaders. A purposeful sample of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year campus principals working in a large urban school district in southeast Texas, who had participated in their district’s leadership development program, were administered the Principal Effectiveness Survey and participated in interviews. Results indicated principals consider training activities related to human capital, executive leadership, school culture, and strategic operations as having a “high” influence on their effectiveness as school leaders. Interview data revealed the importance of supervisor support and building relationships with peers as critical to their continued success as leaders.

Authors

• Eric Tingle, Houston Independent School District

• Antonio Corrales, University of Houston - Clear Lake

• Michelle L. Peters, University of Houston - Clear Lake