We See You; We Hear You; We Value You: Analyzing the Impact on Locally Hired Staff: A Phenomenological Study at an American International School
Date of Award
8-1-2024
Degree Name
Ed.D. in Leadership for Organizations
Department
Department of Educational Administration
Advisor/Chair
James Olive
Abstract
International schools experience administrative turnover approximately every 3.7 years. This turnover can create challenges for staff members, particularly the locally hired staff who have been with the school for a significant amount of time. These individuals are the backbone of international schools due to their longevity employed with the school. Carrying immense historical knowledge and critical information regarding the school, community, and strategic planning, they are affected most by high administrative turnover. Additionally, beyond the daily task of academic support, these individuals help acculturate the expatriate staff, who are also transitional. This dissertation examined the extent to which high administrator turnover affects the experiences of locally hired staff and the practical strategies used to mitigate the impact experienced during administrative turnover. This qualitative action research study investigated the impact of administrative turnover on locally hired staff. During the study, semi-structured interviews were completed using a phenomenological design to explore the lived experiences of six locally hired staff who worked at an American international school for more than ten years. Based on the framework of intercultural competency theory, this research identified five key themes: the impact of leadership and organizational changes, system and standardization, empowerment and contributions of local staff, cultural responsiveness and integration, and growth and development of the school environment. These themes led to the proposal of two action-based objectives. The objectives involved leveraging the expertise and knowledge of locally hired staff by forming a task force to establish a unified framework that promotes cultural sensitivity, inclusivity, equity, and standardization of practices among locally hired staff.
Keywords
International school; international education; locally hired staff; phenomenological; lived experiences; administration turnover; intercultural competency in international schools; standardized practices
Rights Statement
Copyright © 2024, author.
Recommended Citation
Banek, Yaisa Ayn, "We See You; We Hear You; We Value You: Analyzing the Impact on Locally Hired Staff: A Phenomenological Study at an American International School" (2024). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 7431.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/graduate_theses/7431
