A Multiple Case Study of Retired, Award Winning Principals in the State of Hawai‘i

Abstract

This research was a multiple case study design that investigated the values, behaviors and beliefs of award winning, retired principals in a western state. The eight individual cases were chosen to represent racial diversity, gender distribution and elementary and secondary school levels of leadership. Specifically, this research detailed the belief systems that these individual school principals developed during their careers. A more comprehensive understanding of these values and belief systems could lead to more a more focused approach in developing exceptional school leaders. In addition, these findings could support the successful evolution of the Educational Administration field so that the demands created by the current environment of high stakes accountability and evaluation can be successfully addressed. This research used a framework developed by Jerome T. Murphy’s explained in his article printed in The Jossey-Bass Reader on Educational Leadership titled, “The Unheroic Side Of Leadership.” This framework assisted me in exploring the uncommon, less documented aspects of excellence in leadership.