Pursuing an Ethic of Care: A Case Study of One Female Superintendent

Autor/in	Rico, Rachelle G.
Titel	Pursuing an Ethic of Care: A Case Study of One Female Superintendent
Quelle	(2009), (257 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit Ed.D. Dissertation, University of Missouri - Saint Louis
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	978-1-1094-6063-6
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; Caring; School Districts; Ethics; Superintendents; Leadership; Administrator Role; Case Studies; Governance; Leadership Styles; Interviews; Teacher Surveys; Observation; Participative Decision Making; Interpersonal Relationship; Interpersonal Communication; Females + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Care; Pflege; Sorge; Betreuung; School district; Schulbezirk; Ethik; Schulrat; Führung; Führungsposition; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Education; Educational policy; Financing; Steuerung; Bildung; Erziehung; Bildungspolitik; Finanzierung; Führungsstil; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Beobachtung; Interpersonal relation; Interpersonal relations; Interpersonelle Beziehung; Zwischenmenschliche Beziehung; Interpersonale Kommunikation; Weibliches Geschlecht
Abstract	This instrumental case study explores how the Ethic of Care is experienced within one Midwestern school system as an alternative approach to traditional school system hierarchical infrastructures. Through the qualitative tradition of portraiture (Lawrence-Lightfoot & Davis, 1997), this study documents the caring leadership actions, behaviors and styles of a superintendent who has transformed the identity of a Midwest school district. Analysis of triangulated data from multiple in-depth interviews, teacher surveys, field observations, district archival data, superintendent publications, and shadowing days, provide a narrative account using thick description (Rossman & Rallis, 2003) to illuminate how care translates into practice and how that practice is experienced and perceived by district faculty. While other studies have looked at the decision-making processes of school administrators based on care and/or justice orientations (DeVore, 2006; Hanson, 2000), I deconstruct the essence of caring leadership by documenting the underpinning values, dispositions, thinking and behaviors of one female superintendent chosen as a paradigm case of Ethic of Care leadership based on reputable recommendations (Brunner, 2002). Data collection and analyses focused on two questions: (1) What are the practices that constitute an Ethic of Care approach to leadership? and (2) How does an Ethic of Care shape the culture of a school district? Five themes emerged from the data: engaged leadership, studious culture, thoughtful presentation, sweat equity, and perpetual evolution. The results of this study indicate that caring leadership requires (1) a conscious decision to consider others in decision-making processes, (2) an appreciation for relationships and community building, (3) respect for others (regardless of their title), and (4) a dedication to nurturing relationships and culture by establishing strong and consistent patterns of communication. This research contributes to the literature by outlining an emergent set of Ethic of Care principles to guide educational leaders in developing caring leadership. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10