Preparing Rural Teachers for Future Leadership: Teachers’ Perceptions of a Leadership Academy

• In Event: Perspectives on Aspiring School Leadership Development

Abstract

In this concurrent triangulation mixed methods study, we investigate the perceptions of rural teachers who attended a teacher leadership academy (TLA) and their mentors related to : (a) how the academy advanced teachers’ leadership knowledge and skills, and (b) how mentors contributed to enhancing teachers’ leadership experience of the academy. Findings of the study showed that both the teachers and mentors perceived the TLA has advanced teachers' leadership knowledge and skills significantly. However, teachers' perceptions of their mentors' contributions to enhancing their experience of the academy were less significant when compared with the mentors' perceptions.

Authors

• Hamada Elfarargy, South Dakota State University

• Anne Karabon, South Dakota State University

• Patrick D. Hales, South Dakota State University