A Case Study of the Extent Coaching Increases the Instructional Leadership Self-Efficacy of Aspiring and Early Career Principals

dc.contributor.authorColucci, Danielle E.en
dc.contributor.committeechairBrinkmann, Jodie Lynnen
dc.contributor.committeememberLowery, Charles L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberAlexander, Michael D.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSoltner, Eugene F.en
dc.contributor.departmentEducational Leadership and Policy Studiesen
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-29T08:00:22Zen
dc.date.available2025-03-29T08:00:22Zen
dc.date.issued2025-03-28en
dc.description.abstractPrincipal self-efficacy and instructional leadership skills are among the most influential factors impacting school success (Goldring et al., 2021; Grissom et al., 2021; Tschannen-Moran and Gareis, 2007; Van Nieuwerburgh et al., 2020). The purpose of this case study was to examine the extent coaching increased the instructional leadership self-efficacy of elementary aspiring and early career principals (AECPs) who completed a specific AECP program offered within one Virginia public school division. The program provided principal coaching as a means of growing the AECPs' instructional leadership skills and self-efficacy. The AECPs in this case study received one-on-one coaching from a program leader and from a mentor principal in addition to receiving coaching from experienced principals during job-embedded learning and professional learning activities. The findings and associated implications produced from this case study provide information to support school division leaders and state departments in preparing a resilient and skilled pipeline of principals. One-on-one coaching and learning from experienced principals were both identified as key coaching experiences that the cohort attributed to their increased level of instructional leadership self-efficacy. Additionally, appreciation of being provided a non-evaluative coach and principal mentors from schools other than their assigned schools were noted within the aspiring and early career principals' explanations of increased instructional leadership self-efficacy. The findings contribute to related areas of scholarship and offer practical implications to school divisions seeking to reduce principal turnover, improve school outcomes and principal practice, and increase principal self-efficacy. en
dc.description.abstractgeneralThis case study explored how coaching impacted the instructional leadership self-efficacy of a cohort of aspiring and early career principals (AECPs) who participated in an AECP program within their school division. The AECPs were provided one-on-one coaching from a program leader and mentor principals as well as job-embedded learning alongside experienced principals. The study found non-evaluative one-on-one coaching and the support provided by experienced principals outside their own schools, boosted the AECPs' instructional leadership self-efficacy. The findings offer practical implications for school divisions aiming to strengthen principal pipelines, reduce turnover, and improve school outcomes.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Educationen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:42572en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10919/125111en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectAspiring principalsen
dc.subjectprincipal and assistant principal coachingen
dc.subjectself-efficacyen
dc.subjectcoachingen
dc.subjectInstructional leadership self-efficacyen
dc.titleA Case Study of the Extent Coaching Increases the Instructional Leadership Self-Efficacy of Aspiring and Early Career Principalsen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineEducational Leadership and Policy Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Educationen

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