Perceptions on Leadership: A Case Study of the Transition from Traditional to Block Scheduling in a Comprehensive High School

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the leadership practices used by administrators who implemented an alternate schedule at a comprehensive suburban high school.

METHODOLOGY
The site targeted was a high school located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. The researcher met extensively with the administrate team of the school, and reviewed hundreds of documents. A modified version of the LPI (reference to the organizational leadership team rather than specific leader) was given to 110 staff members, which were completed by 87 (79% response rate). Internal reliability for this version ranged from .83 to .93.

KEY FINDINGS
Inspiring a shared vision was the leadership practice most frequently reported being used by the organizational leadership team, followed by Challenging the Process, Enabling Others to Act, Modeling the Way and Encouraging the Heart. The LPI scores from members of that leadership team were significantly higher on the first four of these leadership practices than the scores of members not on the organizational leadership team.