Date of Award

Spring 5-22-2022

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Organizational Leadership

First Advisor

Timothy McCarty, Ed.D.

Second Advisor

Keith Larick, Ed.D.

Third Advisor

Patrick Sweeney, Ed.D.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative multicase study was to describe the emotional intelligence strategies that exemplary Latino school district superintendents use as they respond to leadership challenges in their school organizations based on Goleman’s (1995) four domains of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management). A secondary purpose of the study was for exemplary Latino superintendents to explain how their use of emotional intelligence strategies supported their success and tenure as they responded to leadership challenges in their school organizations.

Methodology: This multicase study was conducted through interviews of five exemplary Latino public school district superintendents in California. The researcher selected a qualitative method because it described the emotional intelligence strategies that exemplary Latino school district superintendents use as they respond to leadership challenges in their school organizations.

Findings: Close examination of data from interviews and artifacts yielded 379 frequencies for the elements of emotional intelligence, and nine themes emerged regarding the superintendents’ lived experiences, strategies, and recommendations. Six key findings were identified to represent how exemplary Latino superintendents lead their school organizations using the four domains of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management) as they respond to leadership challenges.

Conclusions: The study supported that the intricacies of a superintendency necessitate demonstrated excellence in the four domains of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management). A leader’s capacity to control disruptive emotions is critical to maintaining effectiveness under stressful conditions. Finally, relationship management was recognized as the most critical emotional intelligence strategy for superintendents’ success in their school organizations.

Recommendations: Further research is recommended to replicate this qualitative multiple case study for exemplary female Latina superintendents and other superintendents of color. Furthermore, given the importance of emotional intelligence strategies for leaders, more research on a study that includes data from both superintendents and board members would add breadth and depth to the data as well as a better understanding of the work of a governance team, which would shed additional light on team effectiveness.

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