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                            Electronic Theses and Dissertations                                                                 Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of 
                            Spring 2009 
                            Leadership Characteristics of Georgia High Performance 
                            Middle School Principals Compared to Collins' Level 5 
                            Leaders 
                            Sandra T. Dominy 
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                            Recommended Citation 
                            Dominy, Sandra T., "Leadership Characteristics of Georgia High Performance Middle 
                            School Principals Compared to Collins' Level 5 Leaders" (2009). Electronic Theses and 
                            Dissertations. 284. 
                            https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/284 
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           LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS OF GEORGIA HIGH PERFORMANCE 
                  MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS COMPARED TO 
                      COLLINS’ LEVEL 5 LEADERS 
          
                           by 
                       SANDRA T. DOMINY 
                   (Under the Direction of Barbara Mallory) 
                         ABSTRACT 
            Business and social sectors have identified characteristics of exemplary leaders. 
         In 2006, the Georgia Department of Education established criteria for a Georgia High 
         Performance Principal, which was based on student achievement instead of leadership 
         performance; however, Collins’ description of exemplary leaders in the business sector as 
         Level 5 leaders was based on individual performance not solely on the organization. 
         Level 5 leaders showed characteristics of personal humility and professional will as well 
         as  the following characteristics: modesty; calm determination; supporting established 
         standards; training successors; giving credit to others; creating excellent results; 
         supporting change; unwavering resolve; modeling expectations; and never blaming. 
         Collins’ asserted that Level 5 leaders existed everywhere.  Thus, the purpose of this study 
         was to examine the similarities of middle school Georgia High Performance Principals 
         and Level 5 leaders. 
            The multiple case study approach allowed the researcher to observe three middle 
         school principals in their school settings, to interview assistant principals and others in 
         the schools, and to review documents related to their leadership characteristics. The 
         researcher also assessed the personality profile of these principals, using the True 
         Colors™ personality profile. Additionally, data form Collins’ description of a Level 5 
                            
                 
                leader was collected and analyzed. 
                     Common themes and patterns obtained from the data yielded the following 
                leadership characteristics found in all three Georgia High Performance Principals: 
                modesty; calm determination; supporting established standards; training successors; 
                giving credit to others; creating excellent results; supporting change; unwavering resolve; 
                modeling expectations; never blaming; promoting professional development; clear vision; 
                good communication; trusting; inspiring others to reach goals; supportive leader; and 
                serving as a role model. According to the findings of this study, Georgia High 
                Performance Principals share common leadership characteristics of Collins’ Level 5 
                leaders. In conclusion, high performance principals can be described to possess personal 
                humility and professional will. Additionally, the Level 5 principals had a long-term 
                relationship with the school they lead. Thus, this relationship was a major benefit to 
                “growing your own” leaders. Therefore, recommendations from this study included, 
                school systems should provide training to prospective and current leaders on topics 
                related to Level 5 leadership, personal humility, and professional will. 
                 
                      
                   INDEX WORDS:    Georgia High Performance Principals, Exemplary leaders, 
                     Effective leadership, Principal leadership characteristics, Qualitative research
                                                 
          
           LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS OF GEORGIA HIGH PERFORMANCE 
          MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS COMPARED TO COLLINS’ LEVEL 5 LEADERS 
          
                           by 
          
                       SANDRA T. DOMINY 
                    B.S., Georgia Southern College, 1984 
                    M. A., Georgia Southern College, 1988 
                   Ed. S., Georgia Southern University, 1991 
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
                            
           A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in 
                 Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree 
                            
                      DOCTOR OF EDUCATION 
                            
                      STATESBORO, GEORGIA 
                          2009