چکیده (انگلیسی):

After 12 years focused on developing school leaders who act as change agents for educational equity, the
Principal Residency Network (PRN) partnered with Johnson and Wales University’s Center for Research
and Evaluation to conduct a utilization-focused (Patton, 2002) program evaluation funded by a grant from
the Rhode Island Foundation. The PRN is a principal preparation program of the non-profit organization,
the Center for Leadership and Educational Equity. This sequential explanatory mixed methods study
explored PRN graduates’ outcomes and perceptions of the program, with an overarching purpose of
creating a coherent data collection and inquiry process to be used by program staff on an ongoing basis.
Following the development of an evaluation framework, Phase I of the study consisted of collecting
assessment data and feedback from current PRN participants, as well as administering a survey
questionnaire to recent graduates of the program (N=14), previously administered in 2005 (N=21) and
2009 (N=6). Phase II of this evaluation was designed to further explore recent graduates’ perceptions of
the nature and relevancy of the program in developing their commitment and skill to lead for equity in
order to recommend program improvements; N=7 participated in a 90 minute focus group. Findings
indicated four conclusions from which recommendations were drawn: the program is achieving strong
results, participants perceive the program to have an interconnected and coherent focus on preparing them
to be equity-oriented leaders, the mentor is a critical component, and modeling the cycle of inquiry created
through this evaluative study is important.