Social and Emotional Leadership Practices that Shape Districts and Schools
Interview Protocol and Notetaking Form
Researcher (to be read to participants): Hi, my name is (insert) and we are here today as part of our dissertation as doctoral candidates at Boston College. Our overarching research questions are, “How do leadership practices model SEL competencies for adults, or promote the social and
emotional learning of teachers and other staff?” and “How do these leadership practices shape a district and its schools?” We will be asking questions related to general leadership practices,
collective efficacy, adult collaboration, teacher resilience and well-being, and the work of mental health staff.
ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED WILL BE TREATED AS CONFIDENTIAL. The
information from responses to this semi-structured interview will be compiled by the dissertation team for their analyses. Any data, including race/ethnicity and gender, that is not currently available to the public will only be used in aggregated form that cannot be used to discern the identity of any participant in any report or presentation or in the public use file that will be made available to the public at the conclusion of this study.
Before starting we would like to get your consent to participate in this study and permission to record this session. (Get signature on consent form.) Thank you. (Once recording starts.) The recording has started. Thank you for allowing us to record this session. Before we start, do you have any questions?
[Interviewer: Prior to starting the script, ensure that all questions re: consent form & study have been thoroughly addressed]
Thank you for sharing your time so we can learn more about your experiences in the Westlake Public Schools. As a quick reminder, we’ve allocated 45 minutes for this conversation and a questionnaire that we will ask you to complete at the end of the interview. Please let us know if you have any questions during our conversation. We just want to remind you that there are no right or wrong answers, we only wish to understand your unique insight. All of your information and responses will be confidential and used for research purposes. No individual information or identifying information will be shared. At any point in our interview, you can end our
conversation or take a break for any reason. If for any reason, the interview questions do not apply to you, or you wish to skip any question, you may do so.
Your input is important to us and we want you to feel comfortable during this interview so please ask any clarifying questions you may have or let us know if you don’t understand a question.
QUESTIONS (Look for leadership practices – what leaders think and do)
1. What is the role of leadership in your district/school? In other words, what do leaders do? 2. a) In your district/school, who supports your work and what type of things do they do to show support?
b) Whom do you support? What do you do to show support?
3. a) How are collective and/or individual goals established in your district/school? b) What do you do to support this process?
4. How do you show support for collaboration in your district/school?
5. What do you do to actively encourage your staff’s professional growth and development? 6. How have SEL initiatives been implemented in your district/school in the last 3 years?
Probe: What drove the district to implement a district-wide SEL initiative(s)?
Probe: In comparison to other district-wide (school-wide) initiatives, how would you
prioritize the SEL initiative(s)?
Probe: Is SEL part of the district’s strategic plan (school’s strategic/improvement plan)?
7. What opportunities were available for district and school personnel to come together to make sense of the implementation process and expectations?
Probe: Assuming there were both formal communications (memos, emails, meetings)
and informal communications, what were the most effective platforms to assist school leaders in making sense of the change process?
Probe: What is your perception of how school-based leaders understand, and make sense
of, the SEL initiative?
8. What was your understanding of SEL prior to the rollout of the initiative by the district?
Probe: What, if any, prior training or professional development have you participated in outside of the district?
Probe: Please describe the focus of the training or professional development (type of professional development; SEL and leadership vs. SEL for students)
9. How was the implementation plan communicated to school-based leaders?
Probe: What rationale/vision/goals for the SEL initiative were communicated to you? Probe: What strategies were used during implementation to help school-based leaders
understand the purpose of the initiative?
Probe: What strategies were used during implementation to assist school-based leaders with
making sense of the initiative?
Probe: How would you measure “full implementation” of the SEL initiative in your school? Probe: How many schools would you characterize as having fully implemented the SEL
10. How has the district-wide SEL initiative informed your leadership practices?
Probe: Can you describe any changes to your leadership practices since the
implementation of the SEL initiative(s) in your district/building?
Probe: How do you support the SEL initiative in your role as a district leader/school-
based leader?
Probe: What leadership practices have you found most effective during and after
Appendix B