Educating a Diverse Student Population: A Principal in a Small Urban Setting

"This was a qualitative study of a principal in a small urban setting. In attempting to answer the question, what vision is needed for schools to successfully educate all students, two topics are discussed: instructional leadership and discipline practice. It is argued that a vision of schools as inclusive learning communities promotes an environment conducive to educational success. As members of a school community, teachers play a vital role. Despite the finding that the burden of instructional leadership remains largely within the domain of the principalship, teachers need to be viewed as sufficiently competent and interested in partaking in school-wide instructional improvement. Discipline practice, often perceived as a barrier to instruction and instructional leadership, can reveal important educational disparities for African-American students and should be re-framed as an instructional issue. To better engage African-American students in learning, more attention should be given to cultural perceptions, and the content and style of instruction. The academic success of each student hinges on an educational approach oriented to attainment for all. Such an approach should be based on a view of schools as inclusive learning communities where common purposes are valued and a sense of ""belongingness"" is fostered."

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Souchet, Theresa A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Robert Stake

• Education, Administration

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3017216

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/79605