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To enhance society through equitable educational attainment, efforts are being made in school districts to investigate practices and student data to provide more equitable opportunities for the students and families they serve. Given the importance of school leaders and their impact on student achievement and school climate (Bass & Riggio, 2006; Leithwood et al., 2004), it is imperative to understand how school leaders develop and sustain mindsets and behaviors toward equity. This study highlights the Superintendent's efforts around equity using focus groups and individual interviews with school administrators.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to explore how PBIS and equity interacted according to school and district leaders. Research methods/approach: This study examined how five schools made meaning of the implementation process, ongoing efforts, and structures created. Through a case study including interviews, focus groups, and observations, the primary research question was explored: How do school leaders and teachers make meaning of implementing and assessing PBIS in their schools as a component of a journey toward equity? Findings: While the five schools had unique aspects, four common themes emerged across schools, including the benefits of PBIS, the power of relationships, the importance of communication and leadership, and PBIS challenges.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how novice Assistant Principals (APs) perceived administrative professional learning experiences. Data came from twelve first-year APs in two Southeast United States public school districts during the 2017-2018 academic year. Through use of semi-structured interviews, a description of how the APs developed as school leaders, their feelings about their challenges and needs during the transition into an administrative role, and a depiction of the school districts' intentions behind the professional learning offerings were revealed. The data were analyzed with the constructionist epistemology and combined theoretical framework based on Mezirow's transformative learning theory and Savicka's career construction theory. The findings showed that that professional learning that is intentional to new APs' specific needs is beneficial, with collaboration, mentoring, networking described as favorable professional growth opportunities.

This study examined the interrelationships between principal beliefs and expectations on the principal's capacity to create the conditions for equity and excellence that result in increased student achievement. The study population consisted of three elementary school principals with demonstrated success in increasing student achievement for all students in the selected schools. Data included semi-structured interviews, participant shadowing, and artifacts observed or collected during the study period. Using the portraiture methodology, collected data informed the development of portraits of the participants to answer the research question "How do personal beliefs, organizational structures, and decision-making processes influence principal practice in leading for equity?" The study found that these three principals demonstrated democratic ethical leadership practices influenced by their personal and professional experiences. The research concluded with the construction of parallels between principal beliefs and the organizational structures and processes they employ to support equity and excellence for all students.

Superintendents serve as the primary strategists and leaders for school divisions across the United States. Yet, organizational socialization to the community and to the district is one of the greatest challenges superintendents new to a district face as they transition into their roles. This case study examined how the work of the transition team in a large city school district contributed to the organizational socialization of the new superintendent and his senior district administrators. Findings indicate that the transition team process supported this new superintendent and his senior district administrators in understanding the knowledge, values, and priorities of the school system and in addressing the school district's priority needs. However, the transition team process had additional outcomes not predicted at the start of this project: (1) it provided an opportunity for community stakeholders to come to agreement with district administrators on the priority needs of the district and on how to address these needs; (2) it led to the development of relationships with stakeholders, including local politicians, that furthered achievement of district goals; and (3) it provided political cover for district administrators to lead the change process through the production of a report with recommended goals.

Purpose: This study examined how principals experienced professional learning that asked them to reflect on their own biases and beliefs, as well as to determine where there are systemic issues of inequity in their schools, and what they planned to do to address those challenges. Design/methodology/approach: Through interviews, observations, and documents, the authors explored the building and sustaining of equity mindsets in education. Findings: The authors analysis led to four overarching themes that collectively answered the research questions about how the principals learned individually and in concert with each other. The themes included the power of the personal journey and commitment, the importance of building a network of support, the benefit of practice-oriented activities that disrupt power structures and inequitable practices in schools, and sustainability. Research limitations/implications: The study focused on a single institute and as such, findings are not generalizable, but may be transferable. Practical implications: Schools and school districts may use the findings when designing professional learning, especially as it relates to leading with and for equity and in cross-district collaborations. Originality/value: This contributes to the literature around concrete ways principals learn and reflect on enacting equity in schools.

This qualitative study, situated within a larger interdisciplinary effort by a graduate school of education and human development at a large private university on the east coast, documents the perspectives of administrative interns on the significance of their experiences engaged in clinical practice. Semi-structured interview data from 20 administrative interns were analyzed through the lens of the following Domains of Interest: a) assessment, b) curriculum and clinical connections, c) mentoring and supervision, and d) context and design of clinical experiences, as well as how these experiences and level of inquiry due to the TI pathway oriented participants into the role of administrator. Data analysis suggests three main themes influencing administrative interns engaged in clinical practice: a) the shift in perspective from the role of teacher to the role of administrator (aligning with domains a, b, and d), b) clinical practice experiences provided strong connections to course content in some areas, and weak connections in others (aligning with domains b and d), and c) the level of mentoring and support from internship mentors, although inconsistent, had a significant impact on how they experienced and made meaning of their clinical experiences (aligning with domain c). These findings have implications for university preparation programs, school districts, and shed light on a unique pathway to accreditation, which focuses on situated learning and role transformation as a result of clinical practice experiences.

This study is situated within a larger research initiative in a university-based School of Education that is continuing accreditation with the Council of Educator Preparation Programs. With a focus on candidates in the educational administrator program, this study examined how key assessments were used in clinical practice to support candidates. This includes the development of research, knowledge, skills, and critical reflection as candidates grow into their roles as visionary leaders who understand the problems of practice influencing student outcomes. The specific research questions that informed the broad study included the following: (1) What design elements of clinical practice allow candidates to understand problems of practice in educational administration through adaptable, contextualized, and authentic strategies?; (2) In what ways do these elements and measures align with the taxonomy of best practices, theory, and research in assessing candidates and clinical practice?; and (3) How do candidates perceive the effectiveness of these measures in clinical practice to assess their understanding of the problems of practice in educational administration? As we considered the research influencing this study, it was clear that two major gaps in existing literature warrant investigation. First, there is dearth of research examining the knowledge, skills, and dispositions candidates gain in educational administration preparation programs and the second is possible changes that occur in schools led by the graduates of these programs. Such paucity in scholarship creates the need for a new research agenda--examining the design elements of clinical practices and candidate assessment measures in an educational administration preparation program. This understanding will inform how preparation influences candidates' abilities to shape the instructional culture to improve student learning.

The role of the school principal has garnered international significance. When it comes to student learning outcomes, the effectiveness of the principal has been recognized as being more important than the effectiveness of a single teacher. Studies also highlight the role school leadership plays in fostering equity and social justice practices in schools and communities. Yet only a small body of research exists on how to prepare leaders to lead for equity. In this paper, we will describe, analyze, and reflect on the components of one school leadership preparation program's (SLLP's) candidate assessment system (CAS), which guided the selection of equity-centered leadership candidates for a cohort program in a university–district partnership. We applied a qualitative content analysis to the documents we utilized to select aspiring equity-centered leaders through the program's redesigned CAS. Our findings revealed that the content and process of the program's CAS was aligned with many tenets of equity-centered leadership, specifically in CAS documents and in the involvement of a broad group of constituencies and partners during the design and implementation of CAS. We also uncovered a new finding outside of our framework: an emphasis on instructional leadership in our CAS documents as a key component of leading for equity. This study is likely to inform other SLPPs intending to select leadership candidates who will have the capacity to lead for equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to more fully understand: (1) the degree to which administrative interns are provided with the opportunity to lead administrative experiences; (2) the types of administrative experiences in which interns engage during the administrative internship experience; and (3) the value of the administrative internship to aspiring administrators. A survey instrument was designed and administered to two cohorts of aspiring administrators in one university's administrative preparation program to answer these questions. Overall, we found that recent interns indicated they had been well prepared to lead managerial tasks during their practicum experiences and that interns were increasingly seeing leadership of instructional activities and staff development. This finding runs counter to previous research conducted on interns' experiences leading instructional activities. Study respondents also highlighted the mentor/intern relationship as a key factor influencing the aspiring administrator's opportunity for leadership experience during the internship.

This study sought to understand how aspiring administrators and supervising mentors contribute to the intern's opportunity to lead authentic administrative tasks during the administrative internship. Using case study methodology, we gathered data from six intern/mentor pairs through in-depth interviews, observations, journals, and logs. Several themes contributed to the development of the intern/mentor relationship in three phases: (a) establishing the partnership, (b) cultivating the mentoring relationship, and (c) learning through the leadership experience. Our results informed the development of the Educational Leadership Mentoring Framework, a new conceptual framework that has the potential to enhance the quality of administrative internship experiences.

The student population in the United States is growing in diversity (Frankenburg & Lee, 2002; Orfield & Lee, 2004; Tefara, Frankenberg, Siegel-Hawley, & Chirichigno, 2011), challenging school leaders to develop or fine-tune their cultural competence in order to meet the needs of the changing student population (Bustamante, Nelson, & Onwuegbuzie, 2009). As a result, expanding knowledge of cultural competence is necessary for school leaders as a way to meet state and federal requirements for student subgroups and to meet new credentialing standards for school leaders (ISLLC 2015 Standards Draft Version; Oregon Department of Education Summit on Cultural Competence, 2004; VA Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Teachers, 2011). This is especially important for assistant principals who must navigate the new terrain of school leadership while working to understand students who may not come from the same cultural background (Madhlango & Gordon, 2012). Through a descriptive case study (Merriam, 1998), this project examines the experiences of two assistant principals, one from an elementary school and one from a high school, who worked as part of a leadership team that increased academic achievement in their diverse schools. The study addresses the following question: How do school assistant principals working at a school with a demonstrated record of success in student achievement, lead schools in culturally competent ways through intentional and enhanced relationships with students? The primary case unit of analysis is the assistant principals, but interviews with teachers and principals provide further confirmation to support the evidence from the assistant principals. Findings indicate that assistant principals can have a positive impact through discipline and community actions. Assistant principals acknowledge that mentors who are deliberate in their work in schools with students of poverty combined with their own personal experiences as teachers is crucial to the decisions they make when interacting with students and their families.

Principals have tremendous influence on the schools they lead (Bamburg & Andrews, 1990; Marzano et al., 2005). Certain leadership behaviors impact school level factors (Cotton, 2003; Hallinger & Heck, 2010; Leithwood, Begley, & Cousins, 1990; Marzano et al., 2005; Orr, 2003). To affect high levels of student achievement, school principals must be responsible for uniting diverse groups under shared purposes with purposeful emphasis on others rather than on self (Cotton, 2003; Hallinger & Heck, 2010; Leithwood, Begley, & Cousins, 1990; Marzano et al., 2005; Orr, 2003). Effective programs in educational leadership preparation include cohort-modeled groupings, among other features (Davis et al., 2005). Because cohorts are a feature of effective programs, yet few aspiring school leaders are prepared through cohort-based programs (Browne-Ferrigno & Muth, 2009), a concern regarding a problem of practice is raised. The purpose of this study was to explore how aspirant school leaders experience the acquisition of leadership practices within their educational leadership preparation program and to contribute to the empirical understanding of how to best prepare school leaders for successful practice. This study was designed to examine: How do school leaders make meaning of their experience in a principal preparation program? In what ways do their experiences support the development of communitarian leadership? The sample included nineteen school leaders who were alumni of a university-based educational leadership preparation program. Participants were interviewed using a basic interview protocol that followed the semi-structured approach for interview technique outlined by Moustakas (1994). The data analysis was carried out in the stepwise manner, using Atlas.ti 7.0 to code and group significant statements from the interview texts and using a basic memoing process to address any concerns of subjectivity. Leaders who experienced preparation activities, including activities that gave them practice leading diverse individuals to shared outcomes articulated how preparation influenced the development of communitarian leadership skill, including relationship-building, communication, and values-identification. Communitarian leadership, which includes leadership actions linked to improved school-level outcomes (Marzano et al., 2005), may have utility as a framework for developing aspiring principals through formal preparation programs.

This study examined the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for aspiring school leaders from the perspective of university faculty in educational administration programs and acting school administrators and teacher leaders. Additionally, I sought to understand the congruence and/or dissonance between university faculty in educational administration programs and acting school administrators and teacher leaders in their view of necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes for aspiring school leaders. Using a qualitative research design, I interviewed both university professors in education administration programs and current administrators who serve as principal, assistant principal, curriculum supervisors, superintendents, department chairs, and other school leaders.

In this study, we sought to understand the development of mentoring relationships during the administrative internship through the lens of the Educational Leadership Mentoring Framework (ELMF). Two cases of mentor/intern pairs were used to explore how each experienced the phases of the ELMF. Data collection methods included two mentor and intern interviews, internship journal entries, observations, and time logs. Findings highlight the significance of necessary processes involved with establishing a mentoring relationship, cultivating that relationship through the development of trust, and how those efforts could or could not result in a meaningful and mutually beneficial learning experience for both the mentor and administrative intern. These results have implications for universities preparing future school leaders, as well as leadership pipelines and programs in school districts. Both entities could use the ELMF to enhance the quality of internship experiences, as well as the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of both interns and mentors.

Recent critics of university-based educational leadership preparations programs have alleged that the programs are out of touch with the contemporary practices of PK-12 school leaders. These complaints about preparation programs have resulted in new and innovative ways to prepare leaders, including the federally funded United States Department of Education School Leadership Program. This manuscript documents the development of a "Communication Hub", which serves as a vehicle to disseminate lessons learned about the United States Department of Education School Leadership Program. While the Communication Hub is still in its early phases of development and finding the best paths to serve the community of SLP grantees, the evidence thus far demonstrates the need for a means of communicating and sharing. The study data suggest the participants see the Communication Hub as adding value to their individual projects as well as having the potential to better disseminate these important lessons learned and helping to increase the quality of educational leadership preparation programs. (Contains 2 tables and 4 footnotes.)

Principals are held accountable for achievement results of students on state-mandated assessments. Special needs students who struggle with literacy can impact the pass rates on these assessments. This study identifies how reading is taught to special needs students in both self-contained and inclusion settings at the secondary level in one school district; determines how school leaders may or may not be facilitating this process; and identifies ways school leaders can more effectively facilitate special education reading programs and processes. (Contains 3 tables and 3 footnotes.)

The purpose of this study was to explore if there was a connection between regular aerobic physical activity and the stress and energy levels of principals as they reported it. The current aerobic physical activity level of principals was discovered. Energy and stress levels of principals who engage in aerobic physical activity, and those who do not, were determined. A survey administered via e-mail was distributed to a national sample of those in Center for Educational Improvement (CEI). The data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages, as well as chi square and t-tests. Findings revealed the majority of principals (65.7%, n = 73) did not engage in the recommended amount of aerobic physical activity and most principals (56.7%, n = 63) engage two days or less per week.

Background: The casual, abbreviated writing style sometimes known as "textese" (e.g., sorry im late ?) has become widespread with the rise of digital communication. We explored Australian university students' views on, and use of, textese across three modalities (text message, Facebook post, email) and three recipient types (friends, peers, lecturers). Methods: In Study 1, 51 undergraduates composed messages across the three modalities to the three recipient types. They also rated the appropriateness of messages written with high, medium and no textese, across modality and recipient types. In Study 2, 37 additional students provided examples of their own sent messages across modalities and recipients. Results: Overall, participants rated textese use as more appropriate, and used significantly more textese, in messages to friends, than to peers, than to lecturers. Conclusions: Undergraduates are sensitive to when and where it is appropriate to use textese and vary their use (and opinions) of written language as a function of the recipient.

Within the field of leadership preparation, there is agreement by both scholars and practitioners of the need to engage aspiring leaders in authentic field-based learning experiences that tightly align to coursework (Perez, Uline, Johnson, James-Ward, & Basom, 2011). An integrated approach including mentoring is critical to the success of the internship activities and therefore the overall experience. Using data gathered from interns, as well as issues emerging in existent literature, the researchers developed and administered a survey to mentors to assess the activities, level of engagement, and general feedback on the internship experience for those they supervised, as well as their own development during the interaction. We subsequently conducted interviews of five mentors who had responded to the survey to allow for further exploration of the emergent themes.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify how current administrative interns enrolled in a university administrator preparation program describe and make meaning of their internship experiences. Design/methodology/approach: For this qualitative study, the researchers interviewed administrative interns enrolled in one university preparation program throughout their internship regarding the experiences. Findings: The findings from this study contribute and add value to research in the area of administrator preparation by highlighting the experiences of administrative interns as well as the implications of how interns make meaning of those experiences using a developmental concerns framework. Key factors influencing those perceptions cited by interns as a result of their internship experiences include the interns' readiness to take on leadership positions, their change in perception of administration, perceptions of journal reflections as an internship component, supporting teachers, receiving feedback from others, and the level of support provided by their internship supervisor. Originality/value: The findings from this study contribute to research in the area of administrator preparation at the university level, specifically pertaining to the structure of the internship, how university preparation programs can respond to interns' concerns, and the design and emphasis of practicum experiences within those degree or certificate programs.

According to Daresh, collaboration between veteran and new or aspiring leaders can promote an environment that is conducive to high levels of student achievement. This study sought to understand the mentoring relationship between veteran school leaders and aspiring leaders within a district that is in Year 2 of a School Leadership Program grant. Results focused on two main themes: (a) accountability time pressures and (b) development and sustainability of the mentor/mentee relationship. Implications for school district leadership and university leadership preparation programs are discussed.

As universities prepare educational leaders for twenty-first century schools, the quality and authenticity of the internship experience require both the strengths of university faculty and the expertise of practitioners to create authentic experiences that seek to bridge the theory-to-practice divide. One mechanism to achieve this is through quality mentorship by school- and central-office-based personnel during the internship experience. A central aspect of this professional relationship is the ability for the mentor to provide access to quality activities that will prepare the aspiring leader for his/her first administrative position. This exploratory study examined language utilized by interns in their time logs as well as information gleaned from preliminary surveys of both interns and mentors upon completion of their experience. Findings revealed the complexity of language analysis and revealed a need for understanding activities of interns and interactions with mentors in a contextual fashion. (Contains 3 tables.)

This study examined the experiences of administrative interns at the completion of their experience, using a phenomenological framework, document analysis, semi-structured interviews and a survey. Findings indicate a disparity between theory espoused in programmes and actual practice of sitting administrators, ideological dissonance between traditional theories of leadership and the more contemporary theories taught in preparation programmes, a level of frustration regarding inconsistent implementation across school districts and time pressures to complete hours. (Contains 2 tables.)

This case uncovers the balance between school culture and academic success that school leaders must consider while leading their schools. New school leaders as well as experienced leaders transitioning into new buildings find that each school has its own distinctive culture. The existing culture and ethos of a school must be considered as leaders gauge the need for short-term and long-term improvements. This must be balanced with the experiences and expectations brought by the leader that have the ability to create positive change. This transition process should not be taken lightly, and administrators should carefully observe what traditions their new school communities value when considering what change needs to be incorporated. This case uncovers the need for new building principals to reflect and analyze background data, both qualitative and quantitative, prior to mandating change in their building. In that sense, it gives aspiring leaders an opportunity to reflect on leadership style and whether there is an opportunity to contextualize that style.

Schools in the United States have experienced changes in their demographic profile during the last half century. During this changing time, schools have experienced court-involved desegregation and have experienced fluctuations in their populations with regard to both race and socioeconomic status. Existing studies on segregation have focused primarily on Black and White students, neglecting the increasing Hispanic population of U.S. schools. This study provides more data to the expanding research on the impact of diversity on student performance. The study examines whether diversity and teacher quality of a school can predict academic performance on state-mandated tests, while controlling for school level poverty. In this quantitative study, the researcher also analyzes whether a difference exists between the predictability of pass rates and advanced pass rates for African American, Hispanic, and White students in Virginia's elementary schools. The data reveal that the impact of poverty is difficult to disentangle from the issues of diversity and teacher quality but that differences exist among student racial groups in their academic performance response based on school-level poverty, diversity, and teacher quality. (Contains 1 note and 13 tables.)

The increase in accountability on both preK-12 districts and institutes of higher education has heightened the demands for partnerships between the two. Such programs have the ability to provide contextually focused, meaningful experiences by combining the theory and research knowledge of university faculty with the practical experience of district leadership (Grogan, Bredeson, Sherman, Preis, & Beaty, 2009; Preis, Grogan, Sherman, & Beaty, 2007). This article provides a Year 1 account of one such partnership between a university and a rural school district, focusing on how the project incorporated and encouraged district voice and input into leadership preparation and how the partnership challenged standing assumptions about what quality instruction is and what makes a good leader. Based on a design-based research methodology, the findings are categorized into the following themes, which emerged through a constant comparison analysis (Strauss, 1987): the application of knowledge to specific district-based issues, leadership exploration, emergent and iterative program design, and embedded leadership training.

Purpose: This study aims to be one in a series examining the leadership best practices of school principals as they lead in an accountability- and standards-driven school environment. The lack of research and necessity to find successful practices to improve student achievement highlight the need for this study. Design/methodology/approach: An inductive exploratory study was designed to provide insight into how successful middle school principals facilitate high levels of student achievement. Findings: Common themes of practices enabling the principals to serve effectively in their schools emerged from the conversations and were grouped in the following categories: sharing leadership; facilitating professional development; leading with an instructional orientation; and acting openly and honestly. Originality/value: This research contributes to the field by providing insights into the practices of leaders of successful schools in a high-stakes testing environment. The study provides a framework on which leaders should model their own practices, as well as informing leadership preparation programs areas around which to focus their instructional content.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a Year 1 account of a partnership between a university and rural school district focusing specifically on how the project has helped to bridge the theory to practice divide and strengthen university-district ties. Design/methodology/approach: A design-based research paradigm was utilized to investigate how creating more authentic and contextually relevant university-school partnerships and embedding leadership preparation in the context of practice may help build stronger bridges between theory and practice. Findings: The findings highlight that holistic approaches to leadership preparation, developing relationships, coordinating meaningful professional development, realism in design and experiences, and introspection are all ways that cohort members, as well as other district personnel, have been able to build stronger bridges between theory and practice. Practical implications: The findings can assist universities and districts in developing and supporting partnerships that contribute to relevant, practical, and meaningful leadership preparation. Originality/value: The authors' analysis highlights that aspiring leadership students who do not engage in meaningful and contextually relevant activities will not be able to bridge the theory to practice gap when working in the actual leadership field. Authentic experiences provide realistic views and understandings of the requirements, challenges, and rewards of educational leadership positions.

This case exemplifies the effects of high stakes standardized testing and accountability on education and stakeholders. When schools are pressured for success, educational leaders and teachers often find themselves in circumstances where regulations and procedures are violated, sometimes with noble intent. The case focuses on the ethical and procedural dilemmas faced by an administrator when teachers violate testing policy to give what they view as necessary assistance to students. Background information is provided to allow students to analyze the situation and propose a solution for the school principal.

This case study focuses on a teacher who discloses a learning disability to her Principal. Given the teacher's challenges in retention of her content material, the district is faced with how to handle the personnel situation of an employee with a disability. This case raises questions of how to balance the needs and interests of students with the employee's rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act.