Date of Award

Spring 3-5-2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Organizational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. Patricia White

Second Advisor

Dr. Jonathan Greenberg

Third Advisor

Dr. Cheryl Marie Osborne Hansberger

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed methods study was to identify the political styles of exemplary Regional Occupational Program superintendents and school board members as perceived by Regional Occupational Program superintendents. In addition, the purpose was to identify and explain the political strategies exemplary Regional Occupational Program superintendents use to work with the different political styles of school board members.

Methodology: In this sequential explanatory mixed methods study, both electronic surveys and face-to-face interview data were collected from five exemplary ROP superintendents and analyzed to identify the political strategies used to work successfully with their boards of education. The framework from The Politically Intelligent Leader (White, Harvey, & Fox, 2016) was used to identify different political styles. The surveys provided basic demographic data of the superintendents and identified the political styles of the superintendents and their board members. Next, the interviews provided a deeper understanding of effective political strategies used by the exemplary ROP superintendents.

Findings: The findings of this study revealed that exemplary ROP superintendents understand the value of using political strategies to work effectively with their board members. ROP superintendents differentiate strategies, based on the board member’s political style. The research showed that the strategy of continual communication as the most effective for all political styles. Teaching and transparency were cited as strategies that worked well for most political styles.

Conclusions: This study concluded that superintendents who understand their own political style as well as those of their board members can implement a variety of strategies to work more effectively with the different political styles of their board members.

Recommendations: Further research is advised by replicating this study from the perspective of school board members. Furthermore, it is recommended that this study be expanded to include multicollege community college districts to examine the political styles and strategies of their college board members and their presidents. In addition, it is recommended that this study be replicated with other entities, such as city government. Finally, it is recommended that a single long-term case study be examined to further delve into the political styles and strategies of an exemplary superintendent.

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