Principals’ Observations of a State Level Project: Leadership to Transform Schools

Abstract

Shared decision making and shared leadership from multiple perspectives is essential in order for true educational transformation to occur. A collaborative research effort between the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Office of Educational Leadership (OEL) provided data on the perceptions of principals at twenty-two urban, suburban, and rural schools participating in the transformation process. Ethnographic techniques were used to gather data to understand the development of leadership skills, shared governance, and shared vision at individual sites Findings from the indepth interviews indicate that an awareness of obstacles to change are a necessary first step toward implementing change; a majority of principals support some degree of site-centered decision making; central office administration needs to facilitate site autonomy; and examples of site autonomy and true shared governance exist.