Date

12-7-2025

ESRP 9000 Professor

Daniel Turner, Ed.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Daniel Turner, Ed.D.

Executive Summary

Addressing Frequent Leadership Turnover at a Private School. Candice Willie-Lawes, 2025: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: Catholic education, executive coaching, independent school, mentoring, private school, school leader

This strategic research project was designed to provide insight into areas in need of improvement at an all-girls independent Catholic school. A SWOT analysis identified a total of 40 organizational factors: 10 strengths, 10 weaknesses, 10 opportunities, and 10 threats. Frequent changes in school leadership within the last 5-plus years was identified as an organizational weakness because leadership attrition hinders consistency and continuity in setting and meeting organizational goals. As an educational institution steeped in a rich history and part of a network of schools, it is important to address factors that can jeopardize its sustainability. Possible solutions were improving work-life balance, ensuring fair compensation, providing professional support and developing leadership pathways.

Since the solution of providing professional support can also address the issue of improving work-life balance, it was chosen as the best possible solution. A QSPM indicated that the best possible strategy for this solution was to establish a mentoring and/or executive coaching program by following a four-step DISA action plan for creating and implementing one. School leaders play a critical role in ensuring the effectiveness of educational institutions. Mentoring and executive coaching are both ways to provide one-on-one support to school leaders through a professional partnership that assists in navigating personal and professional goals. The findings from the literature reviewed for this strategic research project support the adopting this strategy.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Concentration

Educational Leadership

Language

English

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