Date of Award
3-17-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Educational Leadership
First Advisor
Stacey L. Kite, DBA
Second Advisor
Victor Mercurio, Ed.D.
Third Advisor
Erin Custadio, Ed.D.
Keywords
Master scheduling; Prioritization; Q-Methodology; School leaders; Systems theory
Abstract
The purpose of this Q-Methodology study was to investigate what school leaders with varying years of experience with master scheduling prioritize when building a master schedule, compare their similarities and differences, and explore how these school leaders described the prioritization process. This study was conducted in two phases. The participants in Phase I were identified using purposeful sampling from the Northeast, and the participants in Phase II were a subset of the Phase I participants. Phase I used a Q-sort of 32 priority statements about building a master schedule. Phase II used follow-up interviews to further explore how school leaders described the prioritization process completed in Phase I. The study revealed that school leaders described the master schedule as the backbone of the school and prioritized ensuring all students have access to high-quality instructional programming and resources; however, school leaders had three polarizing viewpoints around what and how to prioritize when building the master schedule. The study found that providing school leaders the opportunity to reflect upon their own priorities and those of others before beginning the master scheduling process was a missing component in many of their previous experiences with master scheduling. The results of this study may assist school leaders in identifying the key needs to prioritize when building a master schedule and to understand the impact stakeholder perspectives can have on ensuring a master schedule is a strategic tool reflective of the school’s values and beliefs.
Recommended Citation
Bourgeault, Patricia, "Master Scheduling: What and How School Leaders Prioritize" (2026). JWU Dissertations & Theses. 36.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/jwu_etd/36
