Adaptive Leadership in Educator Preparation: A Statewide Case Study

Abstract

Leaders are faced with adaptive challenges regularly, if not daily. Literature reports that adaptive leadership refers to a process of leading rather than an individual’s capacity. This study focused on how adaptive and technical challenges in educator preparation are approached and solved throughout Louisiana’s institutions of higher education. The problem investigated in this descriptive study is the adaptive and technical leadership approaches used to govern Louisiana’s educator preparation programs. The descriptive study utilized Northouse’s Adaptive Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ) to identify the leadership approaches used among educator preparation providers. One leader at each institution of higher education (IHE) offering educator preparation programs approved by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will comprise the sample. Frequency distributions of results for Northouse’s six a priori constructs (Get on the Balcony, Identify the Adaptive Challenge, Regulate Distress, Maintain Disciplined Attention, Give the Work Back to the People, Protect Leadership Voices from Below) were analyzed to identify patterns in participants’ adaptive leadership styles. Results can inform policy and practice recommendations, leader support needs, future research, and collaboration opportunities.

Keywords

• adaptive leadership
• adaptive vs. technical leadership
• leadership challenges
• leadership development
• educator preparation