The Principal as Faith Leader in Alberta's Catholic Schools: A Multi-Site Case Study
Date
2020-06-08
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Abstract
This qualitative study explored the overarching question, “How, if at all, do principals of Catholic schools serve as faith leaders within the context of their respective school communities?” A case study methodology was employed as the study focused on a contemporary phenomenon, which is the faith leadership role of Catholic school principals, in a real-world context, that being Catholic schools in the province of Alberta. Data was generated by means of an electronic survey questionnaire and individual interviews involving Catholic school principals from throughout the province of Alberta, with thirty participating in Phase I of data collection (survey questionnaire), and eight from this group electing to participate Phase II (individual interviews). The overarching finding in the study is that principal’s in Alberta’s Catholic schools have prepared in a variety of ways for serving in the role and grow differently in their own knowledge and application of faith, but feel that they are all expected to serve their school communities as leaders of faith and generally believe that they perform this role in some fashion to varying degrees. Four major concepts in the study relative to the idea of the faith leadership role of Alberta’s Catholic school principals served as a conceptual framework for the study and later translated into analytical categories. These categories include: Preparation for the Role, Living the Role, Expectations for Faith Leadership, and Learning and Growing in Knowledge and Faith. The study offers conclusions relative to these concepts and provides recommendations for current Catholic school principals, those aspiring to leadership in Catholic schools, members of Catholic school communities, Catholic school jurisdictions, and opportunities for further research. This research breaks new ground by delving into a relatively unexplored phenomenon, specifically, that of the faith leadership role of Catholic school principals. This study makes a significant contribution to the body of knowledge in the area of Catholic educational leadership by providing a distinct conceptualization of the nature of the Catholic school principal as a leader of faith.
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Catholic education, Catholic school, faith leader, faith leadership, Catholic school principal, religious education, faith education, Catholic school leadership, faith formation
Citation
Moroziuk, H. C. E. (2020). The Principal as Faith Leader in Alberta's Catholic Schools: A Multi-Site Case Study (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.