Leadership Structures That Support A Collaborative Culture...

1 LEADERSHIP STRUCTURES THAT SUPPORT Chapter III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Case study research is the in-depth study of instances of a phenomenon in its natural context and from the perspective of the participants involved in the phenomenon. (Gall, Gall, Borg, 2003, p. 436) This qualitative case study analysis was searching for themes that emerged from leadership structures that support a collaborative culture of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) in a large high school in order to inform the creation of a guide entitled Leadership Structures that Support High-Functioning, Sustainable PLCs in High Schools: A School and District Leader?s Practical Guide. Qualitative research allowed me to deeply analyze the experience of†¦show more content†¦The research questions that guided this investigation were: What leadership structures at the school and district level best support teacher collective efficacy in secondary schools? Who needs to be a part of the instructional leadership team in order to support Professional Learning Communities in secondary schools? What activities of the instructional leadership team produce high-functioning Professional Learning Communities? This chapter presents a comprehensive overview of methodology used in this study: research design, study participants, data collection and instruments, reliability and validity, data analysis, ethical concerns, and study limitations, followed by a brief summary. Context This case study provides an in-depth and rich description of School Site A. School Site A is a large high school in the Midwest area of the United States with 2,226 students. School Site A is located in a first-ring suburb of a large urban area. The school?s student demographics include: 10.5% Hispanic/Latino, 0.9% American Indian/Alaska Native, 14.5% Black/African American, 52.7% White, and 3.1% two or more races. The administrative staff is made up of one Principal Sheila, one Associate Principal Mike, two Assistant Principals: Monique and Becky and one Athletic Director. The staff at School Site A includes: 105.84 teachers, 2.00 Media Specialists, 16.20 other licensed professionals, 18.57 paraprofessionals, and 50.97 other staff, which includesShow MoreRelatedImportant Aspects Of A Good School Leader1309 Words   |  6 Pagesgets the people to do the greatest things.† The word â€Å"leadership† can evoke a variety of mental images; the president of a nation, an army general, a CEO, school principal, or the captain of the football team. Leadership is about direction and influence (Leithwood). Chemers states that, â€Å"Leadership is the process of social influence where one person is able to enlist the help of others to reach a common goal† (Chemers, 1997, p. 1). 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