Date Approved

8-19-2020

Embargo Period

8-20-2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

EdD Doctor of Education

Department

Educational Services and Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Manning, JoAnn

Committee Member 1

Raivetz, Mark J.

Committee Member 2

Graber, Jeffrey

Keywords

evaluation, leadership, policy, superintendent, TEACHNJ, tenure

Subject(s)

Teachers--Rating of--Law and legislation; School superintendents--New Jersey

Disciplines

Educational Leadership

Abstract

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to develop a theory, grounded in data obtained by interviewing current superintendents on how TEACHNJ has impacted their ability to improve student performance. TEACHNJ is a law enacted by the state of New Jersey to improve teacher quality and raise student performance by changing evaluation and tenure processes in order to create greater transparency, equity, consistency, and accountability across districts. This study examined the law's impact on five specific actions superintendents can take that have been found to enhance student performance. The study found that TEACHNJ served as a punctuating event, sending districts into a revolutionary period. "Enhancing the conversation" was found to the be core phenomenon through this period. Following grounded theory methodology as defined by both Creswell (2007) and Strauss and Corbin (1990), this study discusses the core phenomenon; the causal, contextual and intervening factors; as well as the strategies and consequences of the theory developed in this study.

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