Volume 5, Number 2
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Abstract: Considering the purpose of a mission statement, an educational leadership faculty group started out to develop a mission statement to focus the redesign of their preservice program. The effort to develop the mission statement led, instead, to the development of a mantra. The mantra now serves as a decision-making reference for the program, curricular considerations, as well as student development and has been very beneficial. This article explains the evolution of the mantra as the guide post for this particular program and provides the reader a step-by-step description of how to develop a mantra. Examples of how the mantra has benefited students and faculty in the master's program in educational leadership are provided.
AVAILABLE AT: http://cnx.org/content/m34580/latest/
Keywords: mission statements, mantra, program redesign, principal preparation, leadership programs
 Full Text | [ ] | 557 kB |
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Abstract: In this review of literature, we analyzed the salient references concerning athletics and athletic directors. Educational leadership traits including organization and planning, decision making and problem solving, communication, and evaluation were explored. The substantial influence that athletics has on students including participation figures and benefits of participation was examined along with the literature relevant to the historical roles and responsibilities of athletic directors. Finally, the review of literature included how perceptions of leadership for athletic directors influenced organizational climate, shared vision, and situational leadership abilities.
AVAILABLE AT: http://cnx.org/content/m34613/latest/
Keywords: athletic directors, leadership traits, school administration
| Full Text | [ ] | 201 kB |
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Abstract: The study analyzed the pretest-posttest results of high stakes test scores, absence frequencies, and high school eligibility cut scores of students who completed fourth-grade through eighth-grades in two academically equivalent but socioeconomically diverse same city Catholic schools. Study outcomes were compared for a naturally formed group of students (n = 28) who had completed fourth-grade through eighth-grades in an urban Catholic school representing fewer family socioeconomic advantages and 40% eligibility for free and reduced price lunch program participation and tuition assistance and a randomly selected group of students (n = 28) completing fourth-grade through eighth-grades in a suburban Catholic school representing greater family socioeconomic advantages and 2% eligibility for free and reduced price lunch program participation and tuition assistance. We reject hypothesized outcome differences based on economic diversity and assert that when students of economic need continuously attend a standards-based school, over multiple years, that requires parental commitment and student engagement, guided by unity of purpose, socioeconomics does not determine academic destiny.
AVAILABLE AT: http://cnx.org/content/m34617/latest/
Keywords: Catholic education, socio-economics, economic diversity, student achievement
| Full Text | [ ] | 200 kB |
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Abstract: This article proposes five common elements or leader dispositions impacting the establishment of a culture of collaboration, innovation and inquiry. The dispositions of values/actions congruence, shared vision, questioning the status quo, collaboration, and systems thinking are examined through the lens of Kouzes & Posner's Five Exemplary Practices (Kouzes & Posner, 2007) and Senge's Five Disciplines (Senge, 2006). The writer offers an advance organizer (see Table 1), comparing and juxtaposing the essences of Practices and Disciplines within the context of artful, collaborative leadership. Other leadership literature (Bolman & Deal, 2008; English, 2008; Rosen, 2007) supports and provides relevance to the focus of this essay. All five dispositions, when working together in concert, may transform and improve organizational effectiveness through collaborative leadership.
AVAILABLE AT: http://cnx.org/content/m34618/latest/
Keywords: collaborative leadership, organizational effectiveness, educational leadership
| Full Text | [ ] | 185 kB |