Following a Legend: Leadership Succession in a Rural Georgia High School, an Historical Case Study
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Authors
Dechman, Robert Michael
Issue Date
2012-05-09
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
High School , Principals , Leadership , Leadership Succession , school culture , transition , Rural Georgia , Education
Alternative Title
Abstract
Principals are retiring in greater numbers each year. If schools are to improve over
time, it is important that leaders understand leadership succession as a process in order to
provide the needed planning and support. This historical case study presents the
opportunity to learn about one particular succession event at a rural Georgia high school.
This dissertation presents a portrait of two principals who led the school during the
process of leadership succession. The foci for the study were the process of leadership
succession, the experiences of both principals during the transition, the importance of
school culture, and the resulting profile of school performance.
This is a qualitative research study that combines elements of portraiture and case
study methods. I used a series of in-depth phenomenological interviews to develop the
portrait of each leader. I reviewed documents and conducted several site visits to make
observations during the course of the study.
Topics of focus during this project included (a) the process of leadership
succession, (b) the experiences of both principals with transition, (c) the culture of the
school, and (d) the resulting profile of school performance.
Findings in this research project included the importance of school culture as
embodied in (a) organizational metaphors, (b) the pace of change, (c) the role of
transition support structures, and (d) legacy management. I conclude with
recommendations for implementation of a leadership succession plan
Description
Citation
Publisher
Valdosta State University
License
Copyright protected. Unauthorized reproduction or use beyond the exceptions granted by the Fair Use clause of U.S. Copyright law may violate federal law.