Teacher and Principal Perspectives on Opening New Elementary Schools With a Positive School Culture

Abstract

This study utilized the perceptions of 147 Georgia elementary teachers who met the criteria of opening a new school with the current principal during the 2009/2010 school year and five Georgia elementary principals who opened new schools during the 2009/2010 school year. There were two purposes for this study.

The first was to determine what teachers perceive as the most important characteristics of elementary principals selected to open new schools for establishing a positive school culture. A Teacher Survey was developed which incorporated the characteristics identified in the review of literature. Respondents identified Respectful as the most important characteristic that principals and school leaders should exhibit to create a positive school culture.

The second purpose of this study was to determine what specific strategies the principals who have opened new elementary schools believe are most effective for establishing a positive school culture. A Principal Questionnaire was developed which directed principals to describe one strategy for each characteristic listed that they found most effective in opening a new school for establishing a positive school culture. The characteristics listed were the same as those provided on the Teacher Survey. The research design for this study was a mixed method, Quan-Qual. Teacher responses were summarized and analyzed using Chi-square.

Results of this research may be meaningful to future new school administrators and to central office personnel and professional development staff in identifying areas that can be targeted in the training and mentoring of new principals.