Students’ Perspectives of a Field-Based Principal Preparation Program for Predominantly Hispanics Schools

• In Event: Roundtable Session 90
  In Roundtable Session: The Development and Preparation of Leaders: Perspectives and Voices From the Field

Abstract

Abstract
This paper examines a principal preparation program, Project LEAD, developed at the University of Texas Pan American to prepare a pool of emerging Hispanic leaders for eight high needs school districts along the Texas-Mexico border. The program offered field-based experiences, seminars, and mentoring by school administration and university faculty, a departure from traditional university-based instructional delivery models. Surveys, interviews, and observations were gathered from the program participants, administrators and principal mentors. Results on a Likert Scale indicated that the project significantly increased annually over a three-year period on each of the five goals. Results of the study supported the features contained within the University Council of Educational Administration Framework for effective principal preparation programs.
Keywords: Field-based, mentoring, principal preparation

Authors

• Rosalinda Hernandez, The University of Texas - Pan American

• Maria Banda Roberts, The University of Texas - Pan American

• Francisco Guajardo, The University of Texas - Pan American