Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Organizational Leadership

First Advisor

Timothy McCarty

Second Advisor

Jonathan Greenberg

Third Advisor

Diann Kitamura

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify and describe the behaviors that exemplary high school principals use to create meaning for themselves and their teacher followers through relationships, character, vision, wisdom, and inspiration. In addition, the study aimed to determine the new teachers’ perceived degree of importance of the principal leader behaviors related to relationships, character, vision, wisdom, and inspiration to help create meaning.Methodology: The mixed methods convergent study design uses qualitative and quantitative means to collect and analyze data to understand how exemplary high school principals make meaning for their teacher followers. First, qualitative interviews were conducted with high school principals, and their new teacher constituents completed an online survey that provided quantitative indicators. The sampled population includes three exemplary high school principals and 30 of their new teacher followers.

Findings: The study’s findings indicate that all five meaning-maker domains are necessary to create a meaningful school work environment, and the degree to which the domains of relationships, character, vision, wisdom, and inspiration are used are situational. Exemplary high school principal leaders discussed the importance of all five domains. At the same time, their new teacher followers supported behaviors that create meaningful school environments, with average survey scores of very important and critically important for each domain.

Conclusion: Principal leaders must integrate relationships, character, vision, wisdom, and inspirational behaviors to create a meaningful school work environment for themselves and their teachers. Principals must focus on being present, building their teams, and providing targeted support to new teachers.

Recommendations: Additional research replicating the meaning-maker construct should include high school principals and teachers in other states, target populations in different California counties, or targeted, purposeful sampling of exemplary middle or elementary public or private schools. Exploration of teachers’ perceptions of the five leadership domains using a qualitative case study would provide a deeper understanding of desired principal behaviors.

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