Leadership Support in Deeper Learning Schools
Spannagel, Carie
:
2022-05
Abstract
The New Tech Network serves as an intermediary for school district leaders who want to improve the teaching and learning practices in place in their schools. The New Tech Network partners with school district leaders to create deeper learning strategies. This capstone project assists the New Tech Network leaders in identifying what principals need to know and be able to do when leading deeper learning schools and the best ways to support their leadership growth through professional learning. A conceptual framework was created by merging deeper learning theories, principal leadership model theories, principal behaviors and skills theories, and high-quality professional learning theories. Using a mixed-methods study design, I conducted semi-structured interviews with New Tech Network staff members and collected various New Tech Network documents for document analysis. The key findings for this project revealed that the New Tech Network team members align their goals when working with principals with established NTN Leadership Competencies. They describe the essential principal skills and behaviors that principals need to lead deeper learning schools that align with key aspects of leadership practices. In addition, the New Tech Network provides leaders access to high-quality professional learning for leaders. I suggested five recommendations correlated to the project's findings and supported by research for the New Tech Network leaders to consider. Though this project centered around the New Tech Network and how it supports district and campus leaders, other intermediary organizations and school district leaders can find value in using the findings and recommendations to develop leadership support in schools implementing deeper learning practices.