| This study explored the predictive nature of the relationship between lay Catholic elementary school principals' professional experiences in Catholic and public schools, demographic information, school demographics, religious formation, and spirituality on the frequency of their spiritual leadership behaviors. Spiritual leadership was conceptualized using Ciriello's (1994) spiritual leadership framework and the behaviors of spiritual leadership were more fully defined using Catholic Church writings and Catholic educational research that describes the responsibilities of spiritual leadership (Barry & Brennan, 2008, Belmonte & Cranston, 2009; Campbell, 2000; Cook, 2001; Curran, 1996; Helm, 1989; Jacobs, 1996, McDermott, 1997; Miller, 2006; Muccigrosso, 1994, Robinson & Cirello, 1994a, 1994b, 1994c, 1994d).;Data for this national study came from anonymous surveys responded to by 253 lay Catholic elementary school principals. Principals were invited to participate using a purposeful representative sampling to ensure inclusion of principals from the eight regions represented on National Catholic Educational Association's board. The Catholic Elementary School Principals' Spiritual Leadership Survey (CESPSL) used in this study was developed by the researcher. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Q-Q plots, a series of one-way, between-subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA), linear regression and stepwise regression analyses.;The results of these analyses revealed no significant correlation between the combined years of experience a lay Catholic school principal has in Catholic schools, as a teacher and principal, and the frequency of their spiritual leadership behaviors. However, Catholic school experience was found to be predictive of the frequency of principal's spiritual leadership behaviors when their experience in Catholic schools was limited to only those years they served as a principal in their current Catholic school. This study did not find any correlation between the combined years of experience a principal had in public schools prior to their employment as a Catholic elementary school principal and the frequency of their spiritual leadership behaviors.;This study did find nine demographic, religious formation and spirituality factors that were predictive of the frequency of lay Catholic elementary school principals' spiritual leadership behaviors. These factors include: the principal's age, catechetical certification, ongoing adult religious education, participation in Church Sacraments, support for Catholic Church teachings, participation in the cultural life of a Catholic parish, feeling close to God, daily prayer, and the practice of reflection and contemplation.;It is hoped that the results of this study provide diocesan leaders and Catholic colleges and universities with a better understanding of the combination of factors that are correlated with the frequency of principals' spiritual leadership behaviors and that this understanding will help inform decisions that are made regarding the preparation, hiring and ongoing formation of lay Catholic elementary schools principals as spiritual leaders.;Recommendations for future research suggest new ways to gain additional insights into the complex relationship between the lay Catholic school principal's professional school experiences, demographic information, religious formation, and spirituality factors and the frequency of their spiritual leadership behaviors as Catholic elementary school principals. |
