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Pedagogical gaps in the bridge from classroom to field for pre-service principal competence development

Sara Dexter (Department of Leadership, Foundations, and Policy, School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA)
Daniel Moraguez (Department of Educational Leadership and Policies Studies, College of Education, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA)
Davis Clement (Department of Leadership and Counseling, College of Education, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA)

Journal of Educational Administration

ISSN: 0957-8234

Article publication date: 25 May 2022

Issue publication date: 24 August 2022

302

Abstract

Purpose

This cross-sectional survey captured educational leadership preparation programs' (ELPPs') relative emphases on 12 evidence-based school leadership competences and related pedagogical approaches to identify the gap between optimal performance per the literature base and actual practice reported for US ELPPs.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey with closed and open-ended questions was sent to all program coordinators of US-based ELPPs.

Findings

Results indicate instructional leadership and use of data are especially emphasized competences, and readings and class-based work were the most prevalent modes of instruction. The most prevalent teaching methods are text and class-based work, and residencies/internships. The least prevalent are instructional tools associated with practice and rehearsal, such as simulations.

Research limitations/implications

The data were collected prior to the world-wide shift in educational delivery associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While they do not capture during-pandemic approaches, the national-level findings provide an impetus for altering or strengthening approaches to leader preparation based upon the shortcomings these results suggest.

Originality/value

There has been no previous inquiry into all US ELPPs regarding how their curriculum aligns with empirically based leadership competences, what their pedagogical approaches include or the needs they identify to further improve their program's quality.

Keywords

Citation

Dexter, S., Moraguez, D. and Clement, D. (2022), "Pedagogical gaps in the bridge from classroom to field for pre-service principal competence development", Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. 60 No. 5, pp. 473-492. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-07-2021-0141

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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