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University of Arkansas

Principal Engagement in the Professional Development Process: The Identification of Barriers, Resources, and Supports

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The purpose of this study was to identify factors that served as barriers to principal engagement in the professional development process and identify what resources or supports were needed to increase engagement levels. For the purpose of this study, the professional development process included the identification of the professional learning needs of teachers on an ongoing and annual basis and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the professional development that has been provided. This study used a qualitative approach to examine principal engagement in the professional development process throughout a large geographic area in the Midwest. 20 principals were purposefully sampled for an interview from among 249 participants in a larger-scale survey. The research questions for this study were: </p> <p>1. What factors or conditions serve as barriers to principal engagement in the professional development process? </p> <p>2. What resources or supports would lead to increased engagement among principals in the professional development process? </p> <p>3. Do building principals accept professional development planning and evaluation as one their primary responsibilities? </p> <p>The data was used to identify common themes regarding barriers to principal engagement in the professional development process. Common themes were also determined regarding resources or supports needed for principals to engage at high levels through planning and evaluation of individual and collective needs of teachers. Recommendations from this study include helping principals grow as instructional leaders, providing more resources and supports for principals, and creating time for effective teacher collaboration. </p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Year dc:date.available
2018

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Koonce, Michael John
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Pijanowski, John C.
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Bengtson, Ed
  • Lasater, Kara A.

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2625
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholarworks.uark.edu:etd-4174

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Arkansas
Base URL
scholarworks.uark.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Koonce, Michael John. Principal Engagement in the Professional Development Process: The Identification of Barriers, Resources, and Supports. Dissertation thesis, 2018. https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2625