The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of public school middle school principals in the State of Michigan regarding leadership, communication climate, and school climate. In addition, the study also examined the influence of school climate and culture on the four frameworks of leadership, communication, and school climate.
A nonexperimental, descriptive research design was used in this study. A total of 300 surveys were distributed to middle school principals listed in the in the 2007 Michigan Education Directory. Eighty-one completed and returned their surveys for a response rate of 27.0%. Four survey tools were used for this study: Leadership Orientations - Self, Organizational Conflict Communication Instrument (OCCI); School Climate Checklist , and a short demographic survey.
The one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) found a statistically significant difference two of the four frameworks of leadership (political and symbolic) between schools with positive and negative school climate. The differences in communication climate between schools with positive and negative school climate were not statistically significant. Pearson product moment correlations found statistically significant relationships between the four frameworks of leadership (structural, human resource, political, and symbolic) and confrontation solution oriented communication climate and school climate. No statistically significant differences in the four frameworks of leadership relative to the size or location of the school.
The major conclusion obtained from this study was that leaders should use Bolman & Deal's four frameworks (structural, human resource, political, and symbolic) of leadership to realize their full leadership capacity. Learning how to use these leadership skills and foster a communication climate that encourages confrontation that produces solutions can contribute to a positive school climate that fosters effective teaching and improved student outcomes.
