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A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF BLACK PARENT EXPECTATIONS FOR BLACK SUPERINTENDENTS

Houchins, Deborah Anne
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1184790097

Abstract Details

2007, Doctor of Education, University of Akron, Educational Administration.
This dissertation examines Black parents’ expectations for superintendents with a specific focus on their expectations for Black superintendents. Limited research explores expectations of Black superintendents. No research was found that explicitly explored Black parent expectations for Black superintendents. Two questions guided this descriptive study: (1) How do Black parents describe what they are looking for in a superintendent; and (2) What are the ways in which their descriptions differ for a Black superintendent. Eleven Black parents in an urban district participated in multiple one-on-one interviews. Their responses provided an overall description of expectations for a superintendent and more specifically for a Black superintendent. Moreover, analysis of the interviews yielded insights into the type of leadership that might be required of a superintendent in an urban district as well as how leadership might be different for a Black superintendent. The analysis of data revealed two themes. The first theme was Community Engagement: Visibility, Vision, and Voice. The parents in this study expected a superintendent to be visible and involved in the community; to cultivate and maintain relationships with students, parents, and community; to value the voices of people in the community; and to use his/ her own voice to act heroically for the children and the community. The second theme was Race: Acknowledgement and Importance. The responses of parents revealed influences of race as related to fulfilling the role of superintendent; acknowledging race-based views; understanding the needs and values of Black students, Black parents, and the Black community; serving as a role model to the same; and acting on behalf of Black children and the Black community. Likewise, the parents described ways that race identity is a component of leadership. Contextual factors, the complexity of needs, the desire for change, the desire for a voice in the education of their children, and race-related expectations influenced the views of parents in this study. Taken together, the expectations of the parents in this study provided insight into characteristics and qualities that Black parents sought in a superintendent, and an understanding of expectations for superintendents in general and Black superintendents specifically.
Sandra Spickard Prettyman (Advisor)
220 p.
Black superintendents; African American superintendents; Black parents; parent engagement

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Houchins, D. A. (2007). A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF BLACK PARENT EXPECTATIONS FOR BLACK SUPERINTENDENTS [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1184790097

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Houchins, Deborah. A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF BLACK PARENT EXPECTATIONS FOR BLACK SUPERINTENDENTS. 2007. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1184790097.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Houchins, Deborah. "A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF BLACK PARENT EXPECTATIONS FOR BLACK SUPERINTENDENTS." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1184790097

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1184790097
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© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.