Congratulations to Jerry Griffin, who on Friday, March 20, 2026, successfully defended his dissertation.
The title of Jerry’s dissertation is "LEADING FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM: AN INTERPRETIVE INQUIRY INTO THE EARLY YEARS OF RURAL NEW YORK SUPERINTENDENTS."
Overview of Problem: Rural school superintendents lead in highly visible, relationally dense communities where leadership is shaped by proximity, limited organizational capacity, and longstanding community expectations. While research documents structural challenges in rural districts, less is known about how superintendents interpret their leadership experiences during their early years in the role.
Research Purpose: The purpose of this interpretive inquiry was to explore how first-time rural New York public school superintendents made sense of their leadership experiences during their first five years in the role. Guided by sensemaking perspectives, the study examined how decision-making, mentorship, gender dynamics, community expectations, and emotional experiences influenced leadership adaptation.
Research Design: This study employed an interpretive qualitative design informed by sensemaking theory and relational leadership perspectives.
Sample: The sample included 14 rural New York public school superintendents (7 women and 7 men) with one to four years of experience in the superintendency, representing districts across the North Country, Central New York, and Southern Tier regions of New York State.
Data Collection and Analysis: Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using iterative coding and thematic analysis supported by analytic memos and reflexive journaling.
Findings: Five themes emerged: (a) Leading Through Relationships and Visibility; (b) Navigating the Emotional Landscape of the Superintendency; (c) Deliberate Decision-Making as Sensemaking; (d) Mentorship and Informal Networks as Interpretive Communities; and (e) Gendered Expectations and Leadership Identity.
Conclusions/Implications: Findings suggest early-career rural superintendents construct leadership meaning through relational engagement and contextual interpretation. The metaphor leading from the middle of the room reflects leadership enacted within the social fabric of rural districts. Implications highlight the importance of mentorship, emotional support, and leadership preparation emphasizing relational trust and contextual understanding.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR(S):
Dr. Peter F. Troiano
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBER(S):
Dr. Shelley Wepner
Dr. Roger Catania
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