Exemplary parent-school partnerships in transition from elementary to middle level: approaches of the middle level principal

A multiple-case study was conducted in order to describe and understand how six nominated Illinois principals foster exemplary parent-school partnerships during the time of transition from elementary to middle level. Participants’ attitudes, purposes, and practices with regard to parent-school partnerships during this critical period of change were explored over the course of three months through multiple semi-structured interviews. The transition from elementary to middle level sets the stage for a state of flux in norms, practices, and social situations for such partnerships. Findings may not be generalized to the population of middle level principals, although naturalistic generalizations or patterns emerged around the themes of participants’ attitudes and beliefs (importance of relationships, influences and motivations, reflective approach to practice), participants’ purposes for fostering parent-school partnerships (importance of democracy in practice, desired outcomes for the transition period), and participants’ practices during the transition timeline (planning, activities, approaches to communication, principal modeling for parents and teachers with regard to barriers). Given the scarcity of literature on the topic of the elementary to middle school transition, particularly regarding parent-school partnerships, the purpose of this study was to simply begin understanding this topic through description. Opportunities for further study in this area exist, including these possibilities: Replicate this study; construct studies to compare and contrast approaches of the principal across a range of school and community demographics; expand the participant pool to middle level principals at large; and explore middle school principals’ role in the transition from middle school to high school.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Ed Organization and Leadership

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Berman, Leslie Carla

Contributors dc:contributor

• Alexander, Kern
• Anderson, James D.
• Sloat, Linda
• Welton, Anjale

• middle school principal
• parent-school partnerships

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 by Leslie Carla Berman

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/88021

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/88021