Catholic School Principals’ Decision-Making and Problem-Solving Practices During Times of Change and Uncertainty: A North American Analysis

Abstract

The authors of the article outline a historical review of Catholic education and student enrollment in North America and a recent perspective of Catholic school principals’ decision-making and problem-solving preferences. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with an understanding of events which impacted the evolution of Catholic school boards and their administrators in America and Can- ada as well as current leadership practices. The authors utilize a survey instrument derived from Wayne Hoy’s decision-making and problem-solving research. Their quantitative findings come from 121 principals of K-12 schools situated across the United States and the province of Ontario. This study shows there are no differences in the leadership approaches to solve contemporary problems in North American schools regardless of varied historical, cultural and economic contexts. This article presents support for reinforcing the Catholic mission within school boards and sup- port for leadership and administration programs in North America.