Dr. Hayes selected for Kottkamp Award for dissertation
3.27.17
Dr. Sonya Hayes, assistant professor in the LSU School of Education, has been selected as this year’s Kottkamp Award Winner for her dissertation, UCEA Professors’ Perceptions of Principal Preparation Program Challenges in Developing Candidates for the Instructional Leadership Role.
The Robert Kottkamp Outstanding Dissertation Award recognizes a recent doctoral graduate as well as their dissertation advisor for research, evaluation, or scholarship that aligns with the Learning and Teaching in Educational Leadership Special Interest Group’s (LTEL-SIG) goals, missions, and purpose research.
Hayes’s dissertation explores the experiences of university principal preparation faculty and their perceptions on the challenges in preparing principals for the role of instructional leader. Additionally, her research studies how these professors’ define instructional leadership, how they design curriculum and develop coursework to prepare future principals to be instructional leaders, and what changes they feel need to be made in principal preparation programs to better prepare campus leaders for instructional leadership.
The committee selected the dissertation because of its relevancy of the topic to leadership preparation, the clarity of writing and its clear alignment with LTEL’s mission.
Dr. Hayes will be presented her award at the LTEL business meeting April 30 during the American Educational Research Association annual meeting, she will be presented with a plaque and award check.
Dr. Hayes graduated with her PhD in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University in College Station. She holds a MEd in Educational Administration, and a BA in English. Her research interests include principal preparation, urban education leadership, and a principal’s influence on teacher efficacy and equity and excellence in education.
About SOE
The LSU School of Education (SOE) offers graduate and undergraduate programs in Curriculum
and Instruction, Educational Leadership and Research, and Counseling, including two
completely online master’s programs. SOE offers a range of professional and academic
degree programs that focus on preparing students for careers in education, research,
policy formation and implementation, as well as program oversight. The School’s mission
is to prepare P-12 educational professionals to be leaders, practitioners, and scholars
knowledgeable in contemporary educational issues. SOE is part of the College of Human Sciences
& Education.
Visit the School of Education at lsu.edu/chse/education
About CHSE
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division
of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education,
the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, the School of Kinesiology,
the School of Library & Information Science, the School of Social Work, and the University
Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs, 18
graduate programs, and 7 online graduate degree programs, enrolling more than 2,020
undergraduate and 879 graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the
highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed to improving
quality of life across the lifespan.
Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education at lsu.edu/chse