Orlean Beeson School of Education Department of Educational Leadership faculty members Peggy Connell, Jodi Newton and Les Ennis have been selected to present original research at the Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA) 43rd Annual Conference in November. The peer reviewed, international conference will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.
The topic of discussion at this year’s SERA Conference is ”Critical understanding of education systems: what matters internationally?” Connell, Newton and Ennis were selected for their exploration of teachers’ perceptions of principal leadership styles and the difference in the resulting teacher satisfaction.
Research findings revealed a significant difference between teachers’ job satisfaction and their principals’ leadership style. The faculty members believe this research will provide an opportunity for principal preparation programs across the globe to incorporate principal leadership style as it relates to teacher satisfaction and retention.
“Quality leadership is based on experience and knowledge and quality leaders are ‘tuned in’ to their impact on others,” said Bonnie Rabe, Orlean Beeson School of Education interim dean. Rabe believes that this research is of great value to leaders as they define their preferred style. She hopes that the research will drive further investigation into other implications.
“Since teacher job satisfaction is often correlated with performance, it makes us wonder if a positive correlation between leadership style and teacher satisfaction also infers improved performance,” said Rabe.
Connell, Newton and Ennis are hopeful for future opportunities to present this research and plan to submit for publication after the SERA conference.