Novice Principals at Traditional Jesuit Secondary Schools: Advancing the Standards and Benchmarks for Jesuit Education

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and understand the experiences and perceptions of novice principals leading in a traditional Jesuit secondary school within the four Jesuit provinces in the United States. Principals in traditional Jesuit high schools experience a leadership reality that includes a national decline in Catholic education, a complex governance model, and a need to promote the religious mission and charism of its sponsoring religious order while responding effectively to the practical needs and expectations of private preparatory schools. This study explored the experiences and perceptions of eight novice principals in traditional Jesuit secondary school settings to understand factors that have supported and/or challenged their transition into this leadership position. The primary findings suggest that novice principals encounter significant emotional stress; have an inconsistent interpretation of their leadership role, especially regarding their proximity as a leader to the academic profile of the school; and find they were unprepared for certain aspects of their job. The data from the study along with a review of literature in Catholic education, principal preparation, leadership theory, and the standards and benchmarks of Jesuit schools results in two primary recommendations: the need for institutionalized emotional support and self-care for novice principals and the need for a formal onboarding process to include crisis management, role clarification, and the relationship building between principal and president. Keywords: Jesuit secondary schools, principal preparation, novice principal, standards and benchmarks of Jesuit Education.

Grantor dc:publisher

Creighton University

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Wood, John Michael

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Rodriguez, Jesus

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is retained by the Author. A non-exclusive distribution right is granted to Creighton University and to ProQuest following the publishing model selected above.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10504/123546

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:cdr.creighton.edu:10504/123546