The influence of professional publications upon the development of instructional leadership skills of principals in selected Texas public schools /
This study was designed to determine the extent to which public school principals in Texts consult journals and books as part of their professional development, specifically in instructional leadership skill areas. A survey was developed consisting of three sections: a demographic questionnaire; a c...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1999.
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| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=730829181&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | This study was designed to determine the extent to which public school principals in Texts consult journals and books as part of their professional development, specifically in instructional leadership skill areas. A survey was developed consisting of three sections: a demographic questionnaire; a closed-form forty-two item questionnaire answered though a four point Likert type scale; and an open-form listing for books and journals. Principals were selected through a stratified random sampling procedure. 262 of 364 usable surveys (72%) were completed after an initial mail-out, a post card reminder, and telephone contact. The researcher concluded that selected principals in Texas consider books and journals to be important sources of professional development, as evidenced through relatively high total means on survey item responses. The top five journals respondents identified as most frequently consulted were as follows: 1.) Educational Leadership, 2.) Phi Delta Kappa, 3.) TEPSA Journal, 4.) NASSP Bulletin, and 5.) Education Week. The top six books and monographs were as follows: 1.) Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Covey), 2.) The Fifth Discipline (Senge), 3.) Educator's Guide To School Law ( tie) and 3.) Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom (Armstrong) , and 5.) (tie) Poverty (Payne) and The First Days of School (Wong). Analyses of variance indicated that means were significantly higher for many survey items, primarily among five groups of principals. These included principals in large and medium-size school districts, secondary principals, principals with three or more assistant principals assigned their campuses, principals enrolled in graduate classes, and principals whose campuses housed professional libraries which were moderately used by staff members. The researcher further concluded that professional reading has positively influenced instructional leadership skills of principals in the areas of future trends and issues, instruction, staff innovation, and school climate. The areas of staff evaluation and communication were rated lowest by principals. Secondary principals in large and medium-size districts generally regarded professional publications as most helpful in their professional development. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Educational Administration". |
| Physical Description: | xiii, 169 leaves ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-143). |