Chapter 16: Characterizing the Principal’s Role: New Insights and Perspectives in PDS Leadership

The role of the principal in the professional development school (PDS) is critical, albeit underexamined, for establishing successful PDSs. Using a phenomenological approach (Moustakas, 1994) to qualitative research in this study, the perceptions based on the lived experiences of 3 elementary PDS principals were explored to gain a deeper understanding of how they made sense of their roles as leaders in their PDSs. The analysis of the data led to the identification of 6 roles the principals assumed as a part of their PDS work. The findings of this study describe how these principals set about their work in order to provide new insights and perspectives for stakeholders concerning how these roles may affect a PDS.