Blazing New Trails - Connexions

Creating Shared Meaning in High Performing, Low Socioeconomic Urban Elementary Schools 143
means to communicate often. The secondary findings are presented in four columns: (a)
provides teacher leadership opportunities, (b) collaborates with teachers’ teams, (c) uses a
variety of decision making practices, and (d) implements new campus and district policies.
Principal Alpha
Principal Beta
Inspirational / collaborative
leadership style
Table 2. Findings Summary: Principals' Behaviors.
Actively involved in classroom
instruction
Primary
Findings
Makes extra effort in support of
Teachers/Staff
Approachable to Students
Sets high performance expectations
Communicates often/ Uses a variety
of means
Provides teacher leadership
opportunities
Secondary
Findings
Principal-teacher collaboration/
collaboration with teacher teams
Uses a variety of decision-making
practices
Implements new campus and
district policies
Ip Ip Ip Ip Ip Ip Ip Ip Ip Ip
It It It It It It It It It It
A A A A A
O O O O O
Ip Ip Ip Ip Ip Ip Ip Ip Ip Ip
It It It It It It It It It It
A A A A A
O O O O O O
Note. Data Sources Codes: Ip--Interview with Principal; It--Interview with Teachers; O-
-Observation; A--Artifacts.
Leadership Style
Both principals shared several leadership qualities; however, they demonstrated
different styles due, in part, to different personalities, evident in their daily activities as school
administrators and leaders. While Principal Alpha considered herself “a very shy person,” her
teachers concurred that she is able easily to influence people. Reflecting on her early years in
education as a teacher’s aide, Alpha noted that she “was able to help people out and people
sought her.” As she mentioned during the interview, “I am a teacher,” meaning she knows by
heart the curriculum, effective instruction delivery methods, and assessment techniques.
Alpha can quickly assess if the teacher she is observing is on track or not. Although Principal
Beta was as equally knowledgeable about classroom activities as Principal Alpha, Beta
seemed more a cheerleader, encouraging teachers to do their best. In contrast to Principal