On February 26, 2025, I defended my dissertation before my committee and special guests! My dissertation was about aspiring principal development. The role of school principals has evolved into a multifaceted and challenging position. The current study investigated aspiring principal development within a single North Texas school district, emphasizing the creation and implementation of a district-led leadership pipeline to address challenges in principal preparation and retention. The researcher employed a mixed-methods approach to assess participants’ perceptions of their competence, readiness, and leadership behaviors post-program completion. Quantitative data, analyzed through dependent samples t-tests, measured shifts in perceived competencies, while qualitative data explored the program’s impact on participants’ leadership practices and perceptions of the principalship. Findings highlight the significance of localized professional development programs tailored to district-specific needs, aligning with frameworks such as Marzano’s 21 Leadership Responsibilities. The study underscores the challenges faced by principals, including accountability pressures, stakeholder management, and instructional improvement, particularly in the post-pandemic educational landscape. Recommendations include fostering mentorship, enhancing professional development, and building robust leadership pipelines to sustain high-quality school leadership. This research contributes to understanding effective strategies for principal preparation and offers actionable insights for educational leaders and policymakers seeking to strengthen leadership capacity within schools. I’ve included an overview of my literature review, final defense presentation, and some photos from this special day.

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Literature Review

Final Defense Presentation