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Northern Michigan University

Leadership Styles Present During Change in Secondary Education

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the leadership styles present during change in secondary education. Four high school teachers, from various districts in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, were interviewed about their experiences with leadership through the change of school structure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the teachers’ perspectives, the researcher determined which leadership styles were present and resulted in a feeling of support during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to understand what leadership styles are present during times of drastic and/or unexpected change. The review of literature provides the reader with a brief overview of prominent leadership styles within the field of education. The leadership styles include invitational, transformational, transactional, situational, and servant. Also in the literature review are a few key leadership traits which include developing a shared vision, trust, lifelong learning, shared leadership, and responding ethically. Two main theories make up the framework for this project, crisis theory and change theory. The five themes discovered in the qualitative analysis include</p> <ul> <li>transparent, thoughtful, and complete communication,</li> <li>a quick response from leadership on how to provide instruction, while allowing flexibility of the type of instruction,</li> <li>a show of support by being available and offering themselves and resources,</li> <li>providing opportunity and structure for collaboration,</li> <li>showing trust for staff by responding with grace and providing flexibility as teachers figure out how to best transition to online learning with little to no time or warning.</li> </ul>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Education Specialist
Level thesis:degree_level
Education Specialist
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Education, Leadership and Public Service
Year dc:date.available
2021

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Sherman, Jeanine
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Bethney Bergh

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/670
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:commons.nmu.edu:theses-1689

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Northern Michigan University
Base URL
commons.nmu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Sherman, Jeanine. Leadership Styles Present During Change in Secondary Education. Education Specialist thesis, 2021. https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/670