Date of Award

Fall 8-5-2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Dr. Shelly Fransen

Second Advisor

Dr. Sherry DeVore

Third Advisor

Dr. Amy Viets-Cooper

Abstract

School district mission statements are intended to be unifying declarations that set a tone and direction for organizations and provide a unifying motivator for the individuals who serve those organizations (Rey, 2017). School district mission statements should be created and articulated in a manner that can be understood and followed by certified administrators and teachers, as well as classified personnel such as district support staff (Lynch, 2016). Without adequate articulation, school district mission statements can fall short of providing guidance and motivation to every employee in the district (Rey, 2017). This qualitative study was initiated to gain the perceptions of school support staff in the areas of custodial/maintenance, food service, and transportation as to how their roles and responsibilities support the mission statements of the school districts in which they serve. Data for this study were collected through support staff focus groups and elementary principal interviews. Results indicated that support staff members, although not always familiar with their districts’ mission statements, do grasp the importance of their roles and how those roles intersect with the educational experience of students. Support staff employees desire more communication regarding their districts’ missions, more training in student-related support, and more communication and respect from certified staff while serving in their roles. Because support staff members in the areas of custodial/ maintenance, food service, and transportation are vital to the functioning of a school, it is imperative they are adequately supported in their roles (Balingit, 2018).

Rights

Copyright 2020

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