An exploratory study of servant leadership among school leaders in an urban school district

194 Pages·2010·0.9 MB·English

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP
AMONG SCHOOL LEADERS IN AN URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT

by

HEATHER CLAIBON JACKSON

ROSE MARY NEWTON, COMMITTEE CHAIR
MARTHA BARBER
LOUCRECIA COLLINS
DEBORAH TAYLOR HORN
MARGARET RICE
SCOTT SNYDER
DEBORAH VOLTZ

DISSERTATION

Submitted by the graduate faculty of The University of Alabama at Birmingham,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

2010
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AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP
AMONG SCHOOL LEADERS IN AN URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT

HEATHER CLAIBON JACKSON

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this quasi-experimental mixed-methods study was to determine if
servant leadership was present in the research setting, the relationship between the scored
Servant Leadership Profile Revised (SLPR) and selected demographic and professional
variables, and the perceptions and professional practices of servant leadership among
school leaders. The participants (n = 74) consisted of school leaders in an academically
and financially challenged urban school district in a southern state. As measured by the
SLPR instrument (Page & Wong, 2003), approximately 30% of the participants were
identified as servant leaders. No significant differences in self perceptions of servant lea-
dership were discovered between male and female principals and school leaders, between
elementary and secondary principals, or among Africa American, Caucasians, or Other
principals/school leaders. The percentage of participants who did not score positively as
servant leaders (68.9%) more than doubled those who scored positively as servant leaders
(31.1%). The 10 principals and/or school leaders interviewed spoke favorably of servant
leadership as a successful leadership style and identified five servant leadership themes:
Humility, Inspiring Leadership, Service to Others, Community Service/Stewart, and
Faith. Also identified were three other themes that were contributing factors to the first
five servant leadership themes: Influences, Ethical Issues, and Lessons Learned.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I have an immeasurable amount of appreciation to each of the participants for his
or her cooperation toward the completion of this study. Their interest and willingness to
provide their professional input enabled me to derive significant findings regarding the
value of servant leadership in the field of education.
A number of colleagues have encouraged and inspired me throughout my doctoral
studies and into completing this dissertation. One in particular is Shelia Mobley who has
come alongside me to help me and adopted my dream as her own. Many of my col-
leagues have made a difference and added value in this process in ways that I cannot ade-
quately express. They are special to me and I am grateful to have them on my “dream
team.”
I wish to sincerely thank Dr. Michael D. Moore, my pastor and spiritual father
whose inspirational words kept me motivated. His teachings and expertise on the Word of
God have thoroughly taught me to implement biblical and spiritual principles that have
made a significant and profound impact on the completion of this study. I greatly appre-
ciate his teachings on how to not only finish what I start, but how to finish well.
I deeply express my gratitude to each of my dissertation committee members.
Special thanks to Dr. Scott Synder for his years of experience, expertise, commitment and
patience. Special thanks to Dr. Voltz for her expertise in urban school leadership and
agreeing to serve on my committee. Thank you to Dr. Rice for her gentle words of cor-
rection and instruction. Her compassion went a long way. Thank you to Dr. Collins
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for that extra push I did not know I needed. Her expertise in the area of diversity and lea-
dership has truly changed my perceptive. Thank you to Dr. Barber for being my biggest
inspiration and for agreeing to stand by and support me every step of the way. I cannot
express how much her motivational words contributed to the successful completion of
this study. I am extremely grateful to Dr. Horn for agreeing to serve on my dissertation
committee, for her deep penetrating words of inspiration and for truly being the best men-
tor and role model any aspiring leader could ever have. I express sincere gratitude and
appreciation to my dissertation supervisor, Dr. Newton, who after my somewhat circuit-
ous start, stuck with me and guided me professionally and smoothly through the many
maze of this journey. I am grateful for her guidance, support and for the multiple work
sessions she provided. Her zeal to encourage and support me during this process on such
a short notice is greatly appreciated. Her expertise has provided me with valuable insight
and has significantly broadened my perspective on life and leadership holistically. When
it comes to educational leadership, she is truly the best!
An additional expression of appreciation is also extended to Dr. Carl Brezausek
for his expertise in the area of statistics and the gift for teaching statistics. I could not
have completed this study without the insight, the answers he provided and the use of his
spare time to teach me how to produce convincing statistical results for this research
study. His recommendations and willingness to help will NEVER be forgotten.
I thank each of my family members and friends for their significant impact in
making my dream a reality. I am forever grateful to my parents, Chrisandra and James
and my grandmother, Rose for teaching me to NEVER quit. I am eternally indebted to
each of them for their unconditional love and support as I journeyed through the disserta-
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tion process. I am blessed and honored that the biggest and better parts of me came from
each of them.
I express gratitude to my husband, Lorice (Champ) for being the captain of my
“dream team” and for his unlimited financial, emotional, and moral support. I am grateful
for his love and support of this manuscript and for listening patiently as I ponder new
ideas. There are no words to accurately express my love for him and how grateful I am to
have him by my side.
Most of all, I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has been a model, inspi-
ration and source of strength for me and for servant leadership in my personal and profes-
sional life. Without HIM, none of this would have been imaginable! I give God the glory,
honor, praise and thanksgiving for His son Jesus who is and will always be the perfect
servant leader.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iii
LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix
LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................x
CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION OF STUDY ...................................................................................1
Statement of the Problem .........................................................................................4
Significance of the Study ........................................................................................8
Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................9
Research Questions ...............................................................................................10
Definition of Key Terms ........................................................................................10
Limitations and Assumptions ...............................................................................13
Summary ................................................................................................................14

2 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ............................................................................16

History and Origin of Servant Leadership .............................................................16
Overview of the Servant Leadership Concept .......................................................17
Models of Servant Leadership ...............................................................................20
Spears’ Model ..................................................................................................21
Russell’s Model .................................................................................................28
Perceived Weaknesses and Criticism of the Servant Leadership Model ...............32
Recent Studies on Servant Leadership in Educational Settings .............................33
Qualitative Studies ............................................................................................37
Quantitative Studies ..........................................................................................49
Qualitative and Quantitative Studies .................................................................54
Challenges Faced by Leaders in Urban School Districts .......................................57
Infrastructure in Urban Schools ........................................................................59
Desertion of the Middle Class ...........................................................................60
Lack of State Funding in Urban Schools ..........................................................61
Poor Pay and Working Conditions in Urban Schools .......................................62
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

Page

CHAPTER

High Stakes Testing in Urban Schools .............................................................62
Job Satisfaction in Urban Schools.....................................................................63
Teacher and Employee Retention in Urban Schools.........................................64
Summary of Literature Review ..............................................................................66
Themes of Servant Leadership ..........................................................................68
Challenges that Impacts Servant Leadership ....................................................74
Job Satisfaction .................................................................................................75
Servant Leadership Profile Revised Implementation ........................................78

3 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY .....................................................81

Study Design ..........................................................................................................81
Study Site and Sample Population .........................................................................82
Study Instruments ..................................................................................................83
Quantitative Instrument - SLPR Data ...............................................................84
Qualitative Instrument –Interviews Data ..........................................................86
Data Collection ......................................................................................................87
Quantitative Instrument - SLPR Data ...............................................................87
SLPR Return Rate .............................................................................................88
Qualitative Interview Data ................................................................................89
Qualitative Instrument Date—General Description of the Participants ............92
Data Analysis .........................................................................................................93
Quantitative Data Analysis ...............................................................................93
Qualitative Data Analysis .................................................................................94
Ethical Consideration .............................................................................................96
Researchers Positionality .......................................................................................98

4 PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS ............................................................................99

Introduction ............................................................................................................99
Purpose of the Study ..............................................................................................99
Research Findings ................................................................................................100
Demographic and Professional Data ...............................................................100
Quantitative Research .....................................................................................100
Differences Between Interview Participants and NonServant Leaders ..........103
Qualitative research findings – Themes and Sub-Themes ...................................107
Characteristics of Servant Leadership .................................................................108
Theme 1: Humility ..........................................................................................108
Theme 2: Inspired Leadership .........................................................................111
Theme 3: Service to Others .............................................................................113
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

Page

CHAPTER

Theme 4: Community Service and Stewardship .............................................116
Theme 5: Faith ................................................................................................119
Contextual Factors of Servant Leadership ...........................................................123
Theme 6: Influences ........................................................................................123
Theme 7: Ethical Issues ..................................................................................126
Theme 8: Lessons Learned .............................................................................128
Summary ..............................................................................................................131

5 DISCUSSION, IMPLICATIONS, AND FUTURE RESEARCH ...............................133

Discussion of Findings .........................................................................................133
Theoretical Implications ......................................................................................142
Practical Implications...........................................................................................145
Recommendations for Future Research ...............................................................146
Implications for Education ...................................................................................147
Summary ..............................................................................................................149
Conclusion ...........................................................................................................149

LIST OF REFERENCES .................................................................................................151

APPENDIX

A INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD (IRB) APPROVAL ..................................162

B DISTRICT’S CONSENT LETTER ........................................................................164

C STUDY INSTRUMENT PERMISSION LETTER ................................................166

D PRINCIPAL AND SCHOOL LEADERS
RECRUITMENT/CONSENT LETTER .................................................................168

E DEMOGRAPHICS DATA FORM .........................................................................170

F SELF-ASSESSMENT SERVANT LEADERSHIP PROFILE ...............................172

G INTERVIEW PROTOCOL ....................................................................................177

H THEMES THE MAPPED ONTO SUBSCALES ...................................................180

I QSR N6 ..................................................................................................................183
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LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1 Studies Conducted on Servant Leadership in Educational Settings ..........................34

2 Research Studies and Factors of Servant Leadership ................................................67

3 Instrument and Types of Data Utilized in the Study ..................................................84

4 Personal Score of the Identified Servant Leader ........................................................89

5 Demographic Information of the Principals and School Leaders Interviewed ..........91

6 Professional and Demographic Characteristics .......................................................101

7 Professional and Personal Demographics of Identified Servant
Leaders and Nonservant Leaders .............................................................................102

8 Results of Testing Servant Leadership Indicator Variable
Dependency with Demographics ............................................................................103

9 Mean Difference Between Identified, Interview, and Nonservant Leaders
On the SLPR Subscales ...........................................................................................105

10 Coding System for Analyzing Interview Data .........................................................106

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

Ecological system theory .............................................................................................140

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