Congratulations to Joanne Galenski-Girardin who on Thursday, September 25, 2025, successfully defended her dissertation proposal. The title of Joanne’s dissertation is: "THE HEART OF THE BUILDING: EXPLORING HOW URBAN HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS' PERCEIVED LEADERSHIP STYLES CAN AFFECT SCHOOL CLIMATE AND TEACHER MORALE."
Overview of Problem: Research shows principals’ leadership is strongly linked to school climate and teacher morale, yet minimal studies examine strategies in urban schools. Effective leadership goes beyond management to improving instruction, underscoring the need to understand how principals foster positive climates and help with teacher morale.
Research Purpose: This qualitative interpretive study investigates urban high school principals’ beliefs about effective leadership and the strategies they use to strengthen school climate and teacher morale. Researcher-developed vignettes are used to explore how principals navigate challenges, connect theory with practice, and reveal the values guiding their leadership decisions. Bolman and Deal’s leadership framework provides the theoretical lens for analysis.
Research Design: The study seeks to uncover principals’ perceptions and decision-making processes. Vignettes allow researchers to examine leadership approaches in context, offering insight into the beliefs and assumptions that shape how principals respond to real-world challenges.
Sample: Ten urban high school principals from the Northeastern U.S. participate through a district- and IRB-approved process will be interviewed.
Data Collection: Data collection will emphasize accuracy and trustworthiness through member-checking, systematic coding, and reflexive journaling. This approach highlights context-specific leadership practices that contribute to school climate and teacher morale, offering insight into how principals enact effective leadership in urban settings.
Dissertation Committee Chair:
Dr. Shelley Wepner
Dissertation Committee Members:
Dr. Martin Fitzgerald
Dr. Lynn Allen
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