Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

Publication Date

7-6-2012

Abstract

Research has established an indirect influence between school principals and student achievement on standardized tests. This paper considers how to measure the relationships between teacher and principal perceptions of four dimensions of principal leadership in New Mexicos K-12 schools—setting a shared vision, developing a culture of learning, managing resources, and collaborating with the community—and student scaled score growth over four years on New Mexico's standards-based assessments. Using two valid, reliable survey instruments, data was electronically collected from 437 teachers and 41 principals; aggregate reading and math scaled scores were also collected for all students in these 41 schools. Based on one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and estimates of Cronbach's alpha, in this application, both instruments used to survey teachers and principals were confirmed as valid and reliable. Additionally, the two instruments appeared to provide similar information from principals and teachers, as three pairs of teacher and principal variables had statistically significant correlations. Two statistically significant relationships were identified relevant to the potential use of scaled score growth to measure school, principal, and teacher performance. First, schools with lower scaled scores in 2008 averaged more growth than schools with higher schools. Second, scaled score growth appeared to have a leveling effect, as no statistically significant correlations were observed between scaled score growth and student or school demographic variables such as percentage of English learners, student ethnicity, percentage of students with disabilities, or percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced price lunches.'

Keywords

School principals -- New Mexico, Educational leadership -- New Mexico

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Educational Leadership

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy

First Committee Member (Chair)

Allison M. Borden

Second Committee Member

Arlie Woodrum

Third Committee Member

Carlos Pagán

Fourth Committee Member

Linda Paul

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