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The change-ready leadership of technology-savvy superintendents

William L. Sterrett (Department of Educational Leadership, Watson College of Education, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA)
Jayson W. Richardson (Department of Educational Leadership Studies, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA)

Journal of Educational Administration

ISSN: 0957-8234

Article publication date: 29 April 2019

1039

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to help the researchers sought to take a closer look at the technology challenges facing district superintendents in today’s leadership climate.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors chose semi-structured interviews as the data collection method. Through 45 min, one-on-one, semi-structured telephone interviews, the researchers were able to collect data about overcoming the challenges of being a modern technology-savvy superintendent.

Findings

Through the analysis, the authors identified four themes related to the challenges faced by these district leaders, including meeting the needs of stakeholders, supporting professional development, fostering mindset changes and addressing a fear of the unknown.

Research limitations/implications

This study only relied on interviews and did not examine evidence from the field, such as site visits or artifact examination.

Practical implications

This study provides the field with insights into the role of the change-ready district leaders who foster lasting technology-infused transformation.

Social implications

While challenges for any district leader wishing to make long-lasting change exist, there are district leaders today who embody second-order change leadership when overcoming the challenge of school technology leadership. These technology-savvy superintendents play an important role as whole-system change agents.

Originality/value

This study highlighted that there many district leaders today who embody second-order change leadership in helping move their districts forward.

Keywords

Citation

Sterrett, W.L. and Richardson, J.W. (2019), "The change-ready leadership of technology-savvy superintendents", Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. 57 No. 3, pp. 227-242. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-09-2018-0160

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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