ERIC Number: EJ1172786
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1551-0670
EISSN: N/A
Instructional Leadership Challenges and Practices of Novice Principals in Rural Schools
Wiezorek, Douglas; Manard, Carolyn
Journal of Research in Rural Education, v34 n2 spec iss 2018
We report on a phenomenological study of the leadership experiences of six novice, rural public school principals in a midwestern U.S. state. We situated our analysis within existing research on leadership for learning, particularly how novice principals interpreted instructional leadership challenges in the context of rural school leadership. Our findings indicated that principals worked to balance their professional and private lives and were challenged to meet their community's expectations to be visible and engaged. To meet districts' constrained budgetary circumstances, the principals also maintained overlapping district- and building-level responsibilities. The principals focused heavily on developing relationships and trust among their teachers, students, and parents. The implications of this study demonstrate a need to develop new leaders' understanding of rural school community expectations; develop skills to fulfill expanding job responsibilities; and supplement leadership preparation, mentoring, and professional development programs regarding the specialized needs of rural school leaders.
Descriptors: Instructional Leadership, Barriers, Principals, Rural Schools, Educational Practices, Novices, Semi Structured Interviews, Educational Resources, Administrator Role, School Community Relationship, Elementary Secondary Education, Phenomenology, Qualitative Research
Penn State University College of Education, Center on Rural Education and Communities. 310B Rackley Building, University Park, PA 16802. Tel: 814-863-2031; Web site: http://www.jrre.psu.edu/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A