The College of Education, Health and
Human Sciences
Announces the Final Examination of
Tonya Delores Cooper
for the degree of
Doctor of Education
March 30, 2015 at 10:00 am
Ball Hall, University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
Biographical Sketch
Bachelor of Arts, English, Lane College
Master of Science, Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Memphis
Advisory Committee
Reginald Green, Ed.D., Professor, Leadership, Committee chair
Larry McNeal, Ph.D., Professor Chair, Leadership
Lauren E. Burrow, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Instruction & Curriculum Leadership
Louis A. Franceschini, III, Ph.D, Research Assistant Professor, Leadership
Major Field of Study
Leadership and Policy Studies
Period of Preparation: 2011-2015
Comprehensive Examination Passed: November, 2013
THE DISPOSITIONS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PRINCIPALS IN THREE SCHOOL TYPES: REWARD, FOCUS, AND PRIORITY
Abstract
The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if student achievement was enhanced when principals exhibited behaviors informed by 16 dispositions. Principals from 120 schools classified as Reward, Focus, and Priority, located in the southeastern region of the United States participated in this study. The Inventory of Leadership Dispositional Behaviors Instrument was used to collect information regarding principal behavior, as perceived by principals, to be most critical to effective leadership. Based on their experiences, participants were asked to indicate whether they believed each of the dispositions were (1) “somewhat important”, (2) “very important”, or (3) “ absolutely critical” in fostering teaching and learning and in helping students achieve.
Results indicated that principals valued the 16 dispositions and perceived that each were equally critical to effective leadership. There were no significant differences between or among the types of schools principals led and the dispositions they perceived as most critical. Additionally, the findings did not support that leadership dispositions significantly impacted student achievement. However, the conclusions from this study yielded four dispositions that were selected by the participants as most critical to effective leadership. Those dispositions were: (1) Integrity (2) Passion (3) Trust and (4) Ethics.
Having identified the top four dispositions that principals agreed were critical to effective leadership, this study could enhance the potential success of any leader in today’s schools. Understanding those dispositions and their influence is a start in the process of identifying dispositions that school leaders should possess. It can be concluded that the topic of leadership dispositions has the potential to significantly change the landscape of education.