Doctoral Grad Honored for Principalship Study
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Jack Staggs, left;
Trampas Bass |
Finding and keeping good public education administrators
is a problem throughout the country, and research by a recent
Sam Houston State University graduate provides some insight
into the situation.
Trampas Bass, who received his Doctorate of Educational Leadership
(Ed. D.) in December, is now an assistant principal at the
Hudson school district near Lufkin. His research earned him
the 2004 Jack Staggs Dissertation Award.
Bass's study investigated why some educators seek positions
as school principals and some do not. He surveyed professors
of principal preparation programs as well as students participating
in graduate-level educational administration courses.
"The professor and student groups agreed on both questions,"
said Bass.
The most important motivating factors to entering the principalship
were the desire to make a difference, the opportunity to positively
impact students and people, the personal challenge, the ability
of the principal to initiate change, the professional challenge
of the job, increased salary and benefits, and the opportunity
to be a teacher of teachers.
On the negative side, Bass found that increased stress, increased
time commitment, pressures from standardized test scores,
family responsibilities, and excessive paperwork were the
leading barriers to entering the principalship.
Approximately 66 principal preparation professors and 860
students participating in education administration courses
representing 52 University Council for Educational Administration
institutions across the nation participated in the study.
Professor emeritus Jack Staggs, who taught in the educational
leadership department and also served as dean of the College
of Education and Applied Sciences, presented Bass with the
award at a reception in the College of Education Teacher Education
Center.
"Years ago when we started this program, I decided I
should set up a fund to recognize the individual who submits
the best dissertation in a calendar year," Staggs said.
The award is given every year to the author of the dissertation
that has been most successfully defended, according to Theodore
Creighton, professor and director for the Center for Research
and Doctoral Studies in Educational Leadership.
"I was very surprised, honored, and grateful to have
received the Jack Staggs Dissertation Award," said Bass,
who is originally from Chapel Hill and who received an associate
degree from Tyler Junior College in 1991 and his bachelor's
(1993) and master's (1997) from Stephen F. Austin State University.
"I could not have produced a dissertation of Jack Staggs
Award quality without the expertise and guidance of my committee
chair, Dr. Theodore Creighton who is a professor within SHSU
Center for Research and Doctoral Studies in Educational Leadership.
I also had a lot of support from the rest of my committee:
Dr. Mary Nichter, Dr. Stacey Edmonson, Dr. Carole Funk, and
Dr. Charlene Crocker."
- END -
SHSU Media Contact: Frank
Krystyniak
May 10, 2005
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