Lessons Learned from Designing a Principal Preparation Program: Equity, Coherence, and Collaboration

Leggett, Stacy; DeSander, Marguerita K.; Stewart, Tom A.

doi:10.1177/19427751221090254

Journal of Research on Leadership Education

2022

DOI: 10.1177/19427751221090254

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Lessons Learned from Designing a Principal Preparation Program: Equity, Coherence, and Collaboration

Stacy Leggett

Marguerita K. DeSander

Tom A. Stewart

Abstract: This study examines the work completed by a regional, comprehensive university’s principal preparation program in redesigning their curriculum for greater coherence. Their process for identifying equity as a program theme and explicitly addressing learning related to program themes is described. Key steps in the process include (a) collaborating with partners, (b) identifying problems of practice, (c) surfacing core beliefs, (d) articulating a comprehensive theory of action, (e) creating a crosswalk aligning s… Show more

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Cited by 3 publications

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Are Aspiring Principals Prepared to Lead for Equity? An Exploratory Analysis of the Principal Fellows Typology in North Carolina

Jackson

2024

Journal of Research on Leadership Education

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While principals play critical roles in mediating inequitable teaching and learning conditions in their schools, scholars have long argued that some remain unprepared for this responsibility. However, these arguments are often supported by qualitative studies of school leaders, years after their pre-service preparation. Using survey data on two cohorts of Master of School Administration (MSA) graduates, also pre-service principals, across North Carolina, this study analyzes their perceptions about their preparedness to engage in equity-oriented leadership. The study leverages the new Principal Fellows policy in North Carolina, a competitive grant program that awards state funds to principal preparation programs demonstrating exemplary principal program features and a focus on preparing school leaders for equity, as the basis of its evaluation. Overall, MSA graduates reported being very well prepared to enact equity-oriented leadership practices, though this preparedness was significantly higher for graduates across Principal Fellows preparation programs. The main finding from this study is that principal preparation program quality is the most significant predictor of graduates’ preparedness to engage in equity-oriented leadership. The findings from this study offer implications for principal preparation programs, policy, and future research.

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Are Aspiring Principals Prepared to Lead for Equity? An Exploratory Analysis of the Principal Fellows Typology in North Carolina

Jackson

2024

Journal of Research on Leadership Education

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A Synthesis of Research on Principal Internships

Rangel,

Drake,

Butcher

et al. 2024

Review of Educational Research

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The internship is a crucial component of principal preparation. This systematic research review aims to build on two prior syntheses of existing research on principal internships. We employed an exhaustive review of five search engines for empirical studies on principal internships in the United States between 2010 and 2023. Our search yielded 92 studies. We extracted key characteristics from each study as well as the main findings. We distributed the findings across the following themes: policy, program redesign, program value, diverse perspectives, coaching and mentoring, internship activities, and internship effects. The literature on internship policy, diverse perspectives, and internship activities is relatively limited. In contrast, there was much more research on program redesign and value, coaching and mentoring, and internship effects. We conclude the review by comparing our findings to two prior research reviews and offering recommendations for future research and practice.

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Centering Equity within Principal Preparation and Development: An Integrative Review of the Literature

Richard,

Cosner

2024

Education Sciences

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Throughout the globe, there is growing attention being paid to issues of equity and efforts to produce more equitable student learning outcomes in schools, and much of the scholarship internationally has begun to center school leaders as key drivers of more equitable conditions. Indeed, in the United States, persistent inequities in education have highlighted the need for K-12 principals who can effectively support diverse students. Effective leader preparation and development, particularly with a focus on equity, is crucial, as it equips school leaders with the knowledge and skills to create inclusive and equitable learning environments. U.S.-based research highlights that high-quality, equity-centered preparation programs can significantly impact student outcomes, emphasizing the importance of integrating equity-focused training in leadership development. However, we know less about the design of high-quality preparation programs oriented around equity, and scholars have noted that current programs are often ill-equipped to prepare equity-centered leaders. Therefore, this study provides an integrative review of the U.S.-based equity-centered principal preparation literature to extract learnings from several types of publications, including descriptive and empirical studies, literature reviews, and conceptual essays. This study provides insights into four key elements of equity-centered principal preparation and development: program vision, curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment. This review consolidates insights from the existing literature into a single, accessible article, offering valuable learnings for program faculty, others who prepare school principals, and researchers focused on equity-centered preparation. Additionally, while centered on the U.S. context, this review is likely to be of value to leadership preparation and development programs in other national contexts, particularly those that have more recently begun to form.

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Lessons Learned from Designing a Principal Preparation Program: Equity, Coherence, and Collaboration

Cited by 3 publications

References 22 publications

Are Aspiring Principals Prepared to Lead for Equity? An Exploratory Analysis of the Principal Fellows Typology in North Carolina

Are Aspiring Principals Prepared to Lead for Equity? An Exploratory Analysis of the Principal Fellows Typology in North Carolina

A Synthesis of Research on Principal Internships

Centering Equity within Principal Preparation and Development: An Integrative Review of the Literature

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