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ERIC Number: ED586642
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 249
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-0-3558-6679-7
ISSN: EISSN-
EISSN: N/A
A Phenomenological Study of Women Administrators' Experiences in Mennonite High Schools
Tieszen, Pamela K.
ProQuest LLC, D.Ed. Dissertation, University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
This phenomenological qualitative research study investigated Mennonite women with experience leading Mennonite high schools across the United States and Canada during their first year serving in the role of principal. This study gives voice to 12 Mennonite women leaders who felt God's "call" to lead. Women leaders encountered bias due to an androcentric culture. Despite the many struggles and limited view of women in leadership, the women built campuses and academic programs, mentored leaders, helped to transform students, and shaped communities as pioneering leaders in Mennonite schools. Feminist, organizational, and vocational theory provided several analytical lenses to interpret their experience. Feminist theory explained how women experienced and managed androcentric cultures in schools and communities. Bolman and Deal's (2013) organizational theory (four frame model) explained how women's leadership styles navigated authoritarian power and political structures, and became symbolic representation for a new style of leadership in Mennonite schools. Parker Palmer's (1983/2010) vocational theory explained Mennonite women's deep sense of being called by God, and how they learned to lead in androcentric, heirarchical church structured school communities. The findings illustrate the potential of faith-based women leaders to empower and build community. The women shaped communities, found mentors, networked, and developed a new norm for women in their communities. Implications and recommendations included building continued awareness and education in schools and community churches by addressing adult gender biases within the culture as well as educating younger children in nonbiased early education programs. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United States; Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A