Congratulations to Terry Dade who on Monday, June 2, 2025, successfully defended his dissertation. The title of Terry’s dissertation is: "FOSTERING COLLECTIVE TEACHER EFFICACY IN HIGH-POVERTY, HIGH-ACHIEVEMENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS."
Closing achievement gaps, particularly the gaps related to poverty, has been a primary focus for educators and leaders for decades (Hattie & Zierer, 2018; NCES, 2023). As educators continue to grapple with mitigating the impact poverty has on student achievement, research on collective teacher efficacy continues to be a promising construct for increasing equitable achievement outcomes for all students. Collective teacher efficacy is defined as a group of teachers shared belief that they can positively impact student achievement (Goddard, Hoy, & Woolfolk Hoy, 2004). Building on existing research that has found a positive and significant relationship between the collective efficacy of a staff and the school’s achievement outcomes, this qualitative study examined the leadership actions that foster the collective efficacy of a school’s staff. The overall research question was: How do principals foster the collective efficacy of their teachers in high-poverty, high-achievement elementary schools? The study sample was 16 elementary school principals. The theoretical lens was Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory and Donohoo’s (2020) research on leading for collective efficacy. During the interview process, these 16 principals reflected on the leadership actions and practices that led to high-achievement in their high-poverty elementary schools, along with practices and conditions that enhance the collective efficacy of their teachers. The leadership practices which enhanced collective teacher efficacy all fell under the themes of (a) inspiring a shared vision; (b) developing trusting relationships; (c) establishing a Professional Learning Community; and (d) building teacher capacity. The study yielded recommendations for principals, principal supervisors, and leadership development programs.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR(S):
Dr. Peter F. Troiano
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBER(S):
Dr. Martin Fitzgerald
Dr. Phyllis Pajardo
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