Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Date of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Leadership

College

College of Education

First Advisor

Donna Foiles-Kiel

Abstract

Music educators who transitioned into administrative leadership roles brought a distinct set of pedagogical, interpersonal, and artistic leadership practices; however, these approaches were not always fully recognized or understood within broader educational leadership contexts. As leadership theory expanded across disciplines, a need emerged to examine how music educators’ leadership identities evolved as they moved from classroom instruction to administrative positions. This study addressed how leadership styles—particularly adaptive, servant, and transformational leadership—were experienced, interpreted, and enacted by music professionals who advanced into educational leadership roles. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore whether a dominant leadership style emerged or whether multiple leadership approaches coexisted among music educators who transitioned into administrative positions. The study examined participants’ lived experiences by exploring how they described their leadership identities and practices through personal narratives. Particular attention was given to the ways adaptive, servant, and transformational leadership approaches shaped professional pathways and influenced leadership perspectives. Guided by two research questions, the study investigated how participants understood their leadership styles within these frameworks and how these approaches interacted in practice following the transition from teaching to administration. Using purposeful, criterion-based sampling, 6–8 participants were recruited. Data were collected through a demographic questionnaire, Likert-scale instrument, open-ended survey responses, and a Zoom focus group. Data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach supported by NVivo and Qualtrics. Findings contributed to educational leadership by providing insight into leadership identity development among music educators and highlighting the interconnected nature of leadership approaches in practice.

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