DISSERTATION APPROV ED BY ¡,,5 l Date Jesus Ed.D., Chair Gretchen Oltnan, J.D., Ph.D., Committee Member J Moss Breen, Ph.D., Director Gail M. Jensen, Ph.D., Dean NOVICE PRINCIPALS AT TRADITIONAL JESUIT SECONDARY SCHOOLS: ADVANCING THE STANDARDS AND BENCHMARKS FOR JESUIT EDUCATION ___________________________________ By JOHN MICHAEL WOOD ___________________________________ A DISSERTATION IN PRACTICE Submitted to the faculty of the Graduate School of the Creighton University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Department of Interdisciplinary Leadership _________________________________ Omaha, NE July 12, 2019 Copyright 2019, John Michael Wood This document is copyrighted material. Under copyright law, no part of this document may be reproduced without the expressed permission of the author. iii Abstract 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. iv Dedication This DIP is dedicated to two important women in my life. My mother who always challenges me to go further do the MAGIS and my wife who supports me daily with her love and patience. v Acknowledgements I am truly grateful for the support, motivation, and guidance from Dr. Jesse Rodriguez, Ed.D. and Dr. Gretchen Oltman, Ph.D. I would also like to acknowledge the important work of Creighton University and its Interdisciplinary Doctorate in Leadership program. I am a more confident, a more prepared, and a more ethical leader today for having been part of this experience. vi Table of Contents Page Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iii Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ..............................................................................................................v Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................1 Background of the Problem .................................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem .....................................................................................................3 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................................4 Research Questions ..............................................................................................................4 Aim of the Study ..................................................................................................................5 Methodology Overview .......................................................................................................5 Definition of Relevant Terms ..............................................................................................6 Delimitations and Limitations..............................................................................................7 Significance of the Study .....................................................................................................8 Summary ............................................................................................................................10 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................11 Introduction ........................................................................................................................11 History of Catholic Education ...........................................................................................12 History of Principal Preparation ........................................................................................18 The Secondary School Principal as Leader .......................................................................20 vii The Novice Principal .........................................................................................................21 The Role of Leadership in this Study ................................................................................24 Standards and Benchmarks for Jesuit Education ...............................................................29 Summary ............................................................................................................................30 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ..........................................................................32 Introduction ........................................................................................................................32 Research Questions ............................................................................................................33 Method ...............................................................................................................................34 Rationale for Participants Selection ...................................................................................35 Instrumentation ..................................................................................................................37 The Researcher’s Role .......................................................................................................37 Data Collection Procedures ................................................................................................38 Data Analysis Plan .............................................................................................................39 Verification ........................................................................................................................41 Ethical Considerations .......................................................................................................42 Summary ............................................................................................................................43 CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS .........................................................................................45 Introduction ........................................................................................................................45 Purpose and Research Questions .......................................................................................45 Review of the Methodology ...............................................................................................46 Description of Participants .................................................................................................46 Data Analysis Procedures ..................................................................................................47 Narrative Summaries .........................................................................................................47 viii Presentation of Findings ....................................................................................................72 Summary of the Findings ...................................................................................................86 Summary ............................................................................................................................87 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..............................89 Introduction ........................................................................................................................89 Purpose of the Study ..........................................................................................................89 Aim of the Study ................................................................................................................90