The Role of District Leadership in the Revitalization and Burnout Prevention of Principals: An Interpretive Case Study
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D)
Department
Educational Administration
Date of Award
Fall 2024
Abstract
School principal demands, compounded by increased accountability and insufficient support, significantly contribute to principal burnout and adversely affect educational leadership and institutional efficacy. This interpretive qualitative case study examined the role of district leadership in mitigating principal burnout within a Texas school district. The district was selected based on a district-wide implementation of The Breakthrough Coach training to enhance principal job satisfaction and well-being. The methodologies included the National Center for Education Statistics questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, publicly available data, and a researcher’s journal to explore the impact of district policies and leadership practices on principal well-being and effectiveness. Participants included five principals and a district leader who responded to research recruitment communications. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts and questionnaire responses indicated that district practices significantly shaped principals’ experiences of burnout. Findings highlighted the importance of district leadership explicitly defining and implementing policies to support principals in facilitating work-life balance and reducing job stress through continuous relevant professional development, workload management, tailored resource allocation, and individualized leadership support. The study’s theoretical framework drew on theories of sensemaking, job demands-resources, and dualistic models of passion, leadership style, and emotional intelligence and highlighted how district leaders can apply these theories to mitigate burnout. This research underscores the necessity of district-level interventions in sustaining principal health and suggests that similar strategies could benefit other educational settings facing high turnover and burnout rates.
Advisor
Nathan Templeton
Subject Categories
Education
Recommended Citation
Dansby-Clark, Dionne, "The Role of District Leadership in the Revitalization and Burnout Prevention of Principals: An Interpretive Case Study" (2024). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 1229.
https://digitalcommons.tamuc.edu/etd/1229