Publication Date

2005

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Stratton, Susan

Degree Name

Ed.D. (Doctor of Education)

Legacy Department

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

LCSH

Women school principals--Illinois--Chicago; High school principals--Illinois--Chicago; Quality of life--Illinois--Chicago

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to learn what factors impact the quality of life among female high school principals in Chicago Public Schools. To effectively research this problem, the study explored work requirements of high school principals, women in the principalship, and quality of life for female principals. This study discovered an understanding of female high school principals and the challenge they face to maintain success while restructuring their lifestyle for balance. This study was based on the Quality of Life Theory, which proposed that a person's satisfaction with a particular area of life was weighted according to its importance or value before the level of satisfaction with that area enters into the equation of overall life satisfaction. The instrument that was used in this study, the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI), was developed to provide a measure of life satisfaction based on the Quality of Life Theory. This study explored both the importance and satisfaction of 16 areas of life. There is an increased desire for success and fulfillment among school leaders both personally and professionally. Such a balance can be difficult to achieve in an educational environment that presents continually increasing demands for excellence and commitment from school leaders. Results indicate that there is a connection between the personal and professional lives of female high school principals and quality of life. The connection between the principals' lives inside and outside of school directly affect quality of life. As a result of the multiple roles and factors in school leadership, there is a struggle to maintain perspective and a healthy balance among the career, family, social, and spiritual dimensions of their lives. This study found that quality of life for these female high school principals is directly affected by their conflicting demands to restructure their lifestyles for balance. The increased awareness that this study offers will aid in improving quality of life among school leaders so that they can successfully meet new demands both personally and professionally.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [97]-105).

Extent

vii, 105 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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