Congratulations to Jeffrey J. Cole who on Thursday, July 11, 2024, successfully defended his dissertation proposal. The title of Jeff’s dissertation is RAISING THE BAR: THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR’S ROLE IN LEADING INSTRUCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT.
Overwhelming data reflects that the academic outcomes of students with disabilities continue to be far below the expectations established by the 2017 US Supreme Court’s ruling on Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District.
While special education directors and school-building leaders share the responsibility to implement instructional practices that improve learning outcomes for students with disabilities, special education directors hold a pivotal leadership role in setting the vision, establishing a strategic plan, and building capacity for equitable learning outcomes for students with disabilities (Bateman et al., 2007; CEC, 2015). A review of the research reveals the paucity of studies related to special education instructional leadership.
Jeff’s interpretive qualitative inquiry will begin to fill this research gap by chronicling special education directors’ leadership practices aimed at improving academic outcomes for students with disabilities in inclusionary settings. His data will be analyzed through the lens of Michael Fullan’s “right levers” for sustaining change: coherence-making, building capacity, pedagogy, and collaboration. The outcomes of Jeff’s study will begin to shed much needed light on how special education students’ instructional needs might be better served by school systems and special education leaders.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR:
Dr. Joanne Marien
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Dr. Joseph Phillips
Dr. Dulce Barker
Take Your Career to the Next Level
Elevate your leadership skills, deepen your understanding of critical and contemporary education issues, and learn to help solve the current challenges in P-20 education.
Learn to Inspire Change
The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership from Manhattanville, offered in partnership with Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, utilizes a forward-thinking approach to educational leadership that is ideal for practicing and aspiring leaders in any educational context. It is designed to support the goals of educational professionals who seek to develop their leadership skills for career advancement or current job enhancement.
