A Survey of School Leaders' Perceptions of Their Leadership Practices and Teachers' Perceptions of Professional Learning Communities

The purpose of this quantitative, survey study was to investigate the relationship between the leadership practices of principals and teacher perceptions of schools as professional learning communities. Twelve principals and 203 teachers at 12 selected schools in a small, rural Louisiana school district participated in the study. Data were collected on principal leadership practices as measured by the Leadership Practice Inventory and teacher perceptions of schools as professional learning communities as measured by the Professional Learning Community Assessment- Revised (PLCA-R) online survey. Correlational analysis revealed the principal self-rated LPI scores were significantly correlated only with the dimension of supported conditions- structures (SCS) from the PLCA-R. The correlation was negative, suggesting that perceptions of SCS were reduced as the principals rated themselves higher on LPI dimensions. Teacher observed leadership scores were significantly, positively correlated with the dimension of supported conditions- relationships (SCR) from PLCA-R. A nonparametric, Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze the potential differences among the 12 schools in their professional learning communities. There were significant differences among the schools in all six dimensions of professional learning communities. Collective learning and application and shared personal practices appeared to be more challenging to the schools. This study may provide a greater understanding of how leadership practices affect educational accountability, collaboration, sustainability, and teacher leadership.