Appendix A – Interview Protocol
Interview #1 Protocol Questions for System–Level Interviewee – Primary Research Focus
1. Descriptor of interviewee.
Gender, age, education background, education background in leadership and management
training, total years as a system level administrator, number of years in current district, number
of years as in current position, leadership positions before current role, experience outside of ed-
ucation.
2. What is the background of this district?
o variations: What is the story of this district? What is the district’s history?
o clarification: What is history? How far back?
o probe for a rich and detailed discussion; emphasis on school improvement,
principal longevity, community involvement
3. Describe the current mission and vision of the district and how this connects to the Vision
Project.
4. Describe the culture of the district as it pertains to learning.
5. How has the Vision Project influenced the learning environment in your district?
a. probe for specific examples of the contribution related to Vision Project strands
i. Culture, Climate, and Organizational Efficacy
6. What long-term learning goals (or strategic plan) has been set for your district, and how
are these tied to the Vision Project?
a. probe for academic
7. What challenges does the district face in strengthening a culture of learning?
a. probe for sustainability or creating a culture for schools that may be at different
levels of implementation
b. probe for ways implementing the Vision Project recommendations has impacted
the culture of learning
8. How does the internal environment of your district impact learning?
a. probe what works/ what’s missing
9. How does the external environment of your district (parent, community, policy, political
and system/central office stakeholders) impact learning?
a. probe what works/ what’s missing
b. probe for specific examples of how the Vision Project has impacted learning
10.How have you developed and distributed leadership in your district?
a. probe for principal development as well as all stakeholders
b. probe for ways the Vision Project has impacted this development
11.What short-term/long-term goals have you set to build capacity in your district?
a. probe for ways the Vision Project recommendations have been integrated into
these goals
12.How does the external environment of your district (parent, community, policy
(state/federal), political and system/central office stakeholders) influence leadership prac-
tices and processes?
a. probe what works/ what’s missing
13.Some culminating questions:
Appendix B – Questions for Human Resources Personnel
Interview #2 Protocol Questions for Human Resources Personnel – Primary/Secondary Re- search Focus
Facts about the principal (demographics):
1. Descriptor of interviewee.
Gender, age, education background, education background in leadership and management
training, total years as system level administrator, number of years in current district, number of
years as in current position, leadership positions before current role, experience outside of educa-
tion
2. Describe how principals are selected to lead local schools.
a. probe for a rich and detailed discussion; emphasis on school improvement, princi-
pal longevity
b. probe for specific examples related to the Vision Project strand
i. Culture, Climate, and Organizational Efficacy
3. What goals (or strategic plan) have been set for your local schools as it relates to teacher
retention?
a. probe for ways the Vision Project recommendations have been integrated into
these goals
b. probe for long term goals and short term goals
c. probe for strategies to increase/decrease
4. What challenges do the schools face in strengthening local school teacher retention?
a. probe for sustainability or creating a culture for schools that may be at different
5. How does the internal environment of local schools impact teacher retention?
a. probe for what works/ what’s missing
6. How does the external environment of your schools (parent, community, policy, political
and system/central office stakeholders) impact teacher retention?
a. probe for what works/ what’s missing
7. Describe behaviors of principals you believe influence teacher retention in schools.
a. Probe for a rich and detailed discussion
b. Probe to clarify, as needed
8. Describe the way teacher mobility data is tracked?
a. Probe for differences at the district and local school level.
9. Describe the way teacher mobility data influences staffing decisions at local schools.
10.Describe how teacher perceptions are solicited at the district and local school level?
a. Probe for what information is gleaned? How is the data analyzed? Who is in-
volved? What is done with the information?
11.Will you recommend a school in your system in which I can conduct further research?
a. Probe for information about the school.
12.Some culminating questions:
Appendix C – Questions for Teachers
Interview #3 Protocol Questions for Teachers - Secondary Research Focus
1. Descriptor of interviewee.
Gender, age, education background, current role, number of years in current position,
previous positions, employment outside of education
2. What does teacher retention mean to you?
a. Probe for a rich and detailed discussion
b. Probe to clarify, as needed
3. What is the role of the school’s principal as it relates to teacher retention?
a. Probe for how the school principal influences teacher retention?
4. Describe behaviors of principals you believe influence teacher retention in schools.
a. Probe for a rich and detailed discussion
b. Probe to clarify, as needed
c. What, how, tell me, and explain
d. Probe for ways which school culture has impacted teacher retention
5. Describe how teacher perceptions are solicited at your school.
a. Probe for what information is gleaned?
b. Probe for how results are shared with stakeholders.
6. What are the greatest challenges affecting schools with a lack of sustainability in local
schools?
a. Probe for a rich and detailed discussion b. Probe to clarify, as needed
c. Some culminating questions: Are there any other ideas that you would like to share that have not been covered?