Please understand me : effective leadership practices and strategies that increase graduation rates
Date
2006
Authors
Tymensen, Wilco
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Education
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education, 2006
Abstract
The primary purpose of this study was to examine how leadership strategies and
practices contribute to student retention and sustained improvement in student graduation
rates. The issue of students' success and graduation is important because educational
attainment is positively correlated with every single important life outcome, and high
school completion is widely regarded as the minimum education qualification needed to
be able to earn an adequate income in the labour market (Levin, 2006). The conceptual
framework of the study was built on Leithwood's transformational leadership model:
setting direction (visions, goals and higher expectations), developing people
(individualized support, intellectual stimulation and modeling), and redesigning the
organization (culture, structure, policy and community relationships). Nine principals,
were interviewed from four zone six Alberta school jurisdictions with significantly larger
than provincial average three and five-year completion data, to determine how these
formal leaders relate or support leadership strategies and Leithwood's Leadership
practices to positively effect retention and graduation.
Although many of the factors that impact on educational outcomes lie entirely
outside the scope and responsibility of the school system, school leaders can utilize
Leithwood's transformational leadership practices to increase the commitment of
teachers to boost graduation rates. Leaders can and should seek to engage the support of
teachers for this vision for the school and to enhance their capacities to contribute to
achieving this goal. In general, leaders need to recognize the multi-faceted nature of the
concept of at-risk and its affect on retention and graduation rates, and need to develop
broad, multi-faceted prevention strategies and practices.
Description
x, 160 leaves ; 29 cm.
Keywords
Educational leadership -- Alberta , High school dropouts -- Alberta -- Prevention , High school students -- Alberta , High school graduates -- Alberta , Dissertations, Academic