Teacher Leaders and School Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Teacher Leaders and School Management - Essay Example As a result, our school has created a team to probe further on Du's case study. The task of the team is to submit a research proposal to the Dean of the Education Department for approval for funding with the aim of determining the functional roles assumed by our teacher leaders and their influence in the performance and development of work groups in our school. This paper is part of the intended research proposal. It will present a detailed discussion of the methodology to be used in the study, particularly the research design, the sampling, the data collection techniques and instruments, the data analysis method and proposed time frame for the conduct of the research. Functional roles as the main variable for the first question, will be classified according to the four (4) common work group functions (L.A.I.G.) essential to a successful group, as developed by Parson (1961) cited in Hare (1992) and as referenced by Du (2007). These are Latent pattern maintenance, Adaptation, Integration and Goal attainment. The teacher leader assumes varied and observable roles and these will be categorized in any of the above-stated common workgroup functions. The main variable for the second question, the teacher leadership, will be based on the factors, leadership attainment, group size and stability, characteristic of group leaders and members and school environment. These factors will be the basis for determining how the teacher leadership affects the performance and development of the workgroup. Methodology Research Design The research design is the main plan of action that will be used in the conduct of this research. Different designs have different applicability depending on the objective of the research and the problems presented. Other factors are also considered such as resource and time. (Ardales 1992) This paper considers the critical analysis on Du's case study prepared by our colleagues which recommends Case Study as the appropriate design for this research. According to Ardales (1992), "when the aim of the study is to have a deeper, more thorough and more comprehensive understanding of an individual or group" then case study is the appropriate design to use. It is also true especially when the researcher wants to "capture the processes which explain the characteristics and behavior of a person, group or institution under investigation". (p. 42-43) The expected responses that will be generated are very valuable inputs to this research. The use of other research designs like survey or correlat ional studies, have stricter procedures in statistical handling, which may limit the desired results. I intend take note of the observations, feeling, hesitations and other remarks that the respondents will provide; all these will be treated as very important in the analysis of this study. Research Site It is I deep loyalty that I decided to choose our school as the site for this research. The results of the research will benefit not only our school and our community. It will also benefit me, personally, as a teacher and a workgroup leader myself. Our school, a suburban elementary school geographically located in the southeastern United States, is noted for academic and management excellence. It is one of the flagship