The Relationship Between Elementary School Climate and Teacher Perceptions about Evaluation


Book Description

Since the passage of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, the demand for accountability in schools across America has put a spotlight on teacher quality. As part of the focus on school improvement, one area that is sometimes overlooked is teacher evaluation (Varlas, 2009). Within the research, studies can be found that show a relationship between school climate and the effectiveness of teacher evaluation systems (King, 2003: Stronge, 2006; Wilson & Natriello, 1987). It has also been found that effective teacher evaluation can improve school climate (Colby, Bradshaw, & Joyner, 2002). Learning how the overall climate of a school relates to the evaluation process could be beneficial to school administrators and teachers alike. The purpose of this study was to investigate elementary school teachers' perceptions of their school climate and determine if a relationship existed between those perceptions and the perceptions they have of their formative and summative evaluations. This quantitative study was conducted in 35 public elementary schools within a southeast urban area of Houston, Texas. The Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire for Elementary Schools (Hoy, Tarter, & Kottkamp, 1991) was administered to the schools' teaching staff to determine teacher perceptions of their school climate. Additionally, the Teacher Evaluation Profile (Stiggins & Duke, 1988) was given to determine the perceptions of teachers related to their most recent evaluation experiences. Data from the 746 participating teachers was analyzed using a Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient and Partial Least Squares (PLS) Modeling to assess the relationship between school climate and the teachers perceptions of evaluation effectiveness. The findings indicated that correlations of scores for the various subtests on the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire Elementary version (OCDQ-RE) with the scores for the various subtests on the Teacher Evaluation Profile (TEP) existed in the direction that supports the stated hypotheses. The six PLS path models defined in this study have practical and/or theoretical significance to predict the relationships between elementary school climate and teacher perceptions regarding evaluation. By understanding the relationship between school climate and teacher evaluation, principals will be better equipped to improve their schools and meet the challenges of NCLB.







An Analysis of the Relationship Between Elementary School Teachers' Perceptions of Principal Leadership and School Climate


Book Description

This study examined the relationship between principal leadership style and climate as perceived by teachers. Eleven elementary schools and 275 teachers participated in this study. The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) assessed teachers' perceptions of principals' leadership styles. The Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire - Revised Elementary (OCDQ-RE) obtained climate data, measured as Open, Closed, Disengaged, and Engaged. Demographic data consisted of five categories: (a) Gender, (b) Years teaching, (c) Years with current principal, (d) Level of Education, and (e) SES and Star rating of each school. An analysis, utilizing Pearson's r correlations, indicated relationships existed between the five LPI and the six OCDQ-RE subscales for principal and teacher behavior. When teachers perceived exemplary principal behaviors, their perception of Collegial and Supportive climate indicators were very high and Disengagement low. Conversely, when teachers perceived low principal behaviors, their perceptions of Collegiality were low with high Restrictive climate indicators and high Disengagement. An analysis, utilizing MANOVA, indicated teachers who spent zero to two years with the principal or spent greater than six years with the principal perceived their principals in a similar manner. Teachers who spent three to five years with the principal scored the principal lower. An analysis of the SES and Star rating of the school indicated teachers from high SES schools with satisfactory achievement scored their principals higher than teachers from high SES schools with high achievement on four LPI subscales and one OCDQ-RE subscale. Findings support the proposition for continued research in the area of school climate and principal leadership.




The Psychology of School Climate


Book Description

Many people have become impatient with school reform and school improvement efforts that fail to include school climate. The importance of a positive school climate is emerging in current research, not only as an essential component of school reform and school improvement, but also as a necessary framework for maintaining excellent schools and providing healthy and safe schools for all students. Research strongly suggests that educators and policy makers have a lot to learn about the importance of school climate for school safety and academic success. With the growing body of research regarding school climate, it is important to study the research and understand how the psychology of school climate and how the elements of school climate can be viewed from a population-based perspective, as well as understanding the impact of school climate on individual students. This review of school climate research includes hundreds of articles and research papers of different perspectives from around the world in numerous cultures. School climate is becoming a science of education and psychology that must be studied further in order to understand the dynamic nature of learning environments, to identify elements that support or threaten the learning environment, and to learn how to improve the conditions for learning in all schools.




The Psychology of School Climate, 2nd Edition


Book Description

As educators, psychologists, child advocates, researchers, and others that support education for all students will find, a positive school climate is the central element for students feeling connected and engaged at school, which are necessary for positive student outcomes. The Psychology of School Climate (2nd Edition) is an essential compendium of school climate research from around the world. With over 600 references, the book is the most comprehensive study of school climate in print. The book is based on a review, description, and application of research that focuses on identifying basic problems and the effects social determinants have on the lives and outcomes of students and school staff members. At the end of each chapter, there are summaries that highlight important points for discussion and additional research. Most importantly, the book offers the gateway to understanding the nexus of students and school climate and the importance of that bond.







Through the Eyes of Teachers


Book Description

"The purpose of this quantitative study was to see if a statistically significant relationship existed between principal communication style and school climate as perceived by elementary teachers in high achieving Title 1 elementary schools in a Midwest state. Teacher perceptions of principal communication style were assessed using the Communication Style Inventory (CSI). The six communication styles assessed were Expressiveness, Preciseness, Verbal Aggressiveness, Questioningness, Emotionality, and Impression Manipulativeness. Teacher perceptions of school climate were assessed using the Organization Climate Description Questionnaire - Revised Elementary (OCDQ-RE). School climate scores were calculated regarding a degree of principal openness and a degree of teacher openness perceived by the teacher. Statistically significant negative relationships were found between Verbal Aggressiveness and principal openness, Verbal Aggressiveness and teacher openness, and between Emotionality and teacher openness. Although difficult to generalize due to a small sample size, the findings are worthwhile to consider for practicing and aspiring principals as well as principal preparation programs."--Leaf 3.




A Study of Relationships Among Teachers' Perceptions of Principal Leadership and Teachers' Perceptions of School Climate in the High School Setting


Book Description

The school principal is viewed as one of the most influential individuals on a school campus (Cohen, McCabe, Michelli, & Pickeral, 2009; Edmonds, 1979; Leech & Fulton, 2008). With this influence, the principal plays a great role in facilitating the climate of the school; which in turn, can have a significant impact on student achievement (MacNeil, Prater, & Busch, 2009). The purpose of this study was to explore high school teachers' perceptions about leadership practices of their principals, as well as to gain an understanding of the teachers' perceptions of school climate in a large urban district in the Western United States. Data was collected with the use of two survey instruments, the Leadership Practices Inventory, which measures the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership, and the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire revised for secondary schools, which measures five dimensions of high school climate. Participating teachers were asked five demographic questions including: age, gender, number of years teaching, number of years teaching with current principal, and level of education. The schools with participating teachers were categorized by three other variables: total response rates, School Performance Framework scores, and the percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced price lunch. Across nine high schools, 334 usable surveys were collected. Pearson correlations were used to find relationships among variables within the survey instruments, while MANOVA calculations with appropriate ANOVA post hoc were used to find differences in demographic variables. It was found that engaged teacher behavior coupled with principals who model expectations and give authentic, goal aligned encouragement related to high levels of positive school climate. Additionally, data suggested schools whose teachers perceived their principal in a negative manner related to low levels of school climate regardless of the socioeconomic make-up of the student body.