Who's Really in Charge? A Case Study of a Collaborative Partnership in Preparing Future Principals

• In Event: Ways in Which Leaders Are Prepared

Abstract

Collaborations are viewed as an important tool to bring forth education reform. However, there is limited research on how institutions of higher education (IHE) forge meaningful partnerships with outside organizations. For an IHE on the US-Mexico border, new principal certification standards prompted them to partner with a school district to train future principals. This qualitative study examined how two autonomous organizations collaborate towards a similar goal- preparing future administrators. Through interviews from university and district collaborators, researchers were able to analyze different aspects of the collaboration using Kezar’s (2005) Stage Model for Collaboration. Emerging themes demonstrated difficulties in balancing power dynamics, and how these imbalances can impact the operations of principal preparation programs.

Authors

• Karina Chantal Canaba, The University of Texas - El Paso

• Isela Pena, The University of Texas - El Paso

• Rodolfo Rincones, The University of Texas - El Paso