Examining empathy and advocacy in K-12 educational leaders

ABSTRACT

In this quantitative study, the relationship between levels of empathy and advocacy competencies among a sample of K-12 educational leaders are examined. The researchers determined higher levels of empathy to be a positive, statistically significant predictor of advocacy for students at the individual as well as community levels. Researchers discovered educators possessing high levels of empathy would be better able to advocate effectively. Professional implications as well as implications for training future school leaders are explored.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amanda Winburn

Amanda Winburn is currently serving as an Associate Professor at the University of Mississippi within the Department of Leadership and Counselor Education. Dr. Winburn has over a decade of experience working with children in various settings. Dr. Winburn is a licensed educator, counselor, and administrator. She currently serves as the Program Coordinator for the Ed.S. in Counselor Education (Play Therapy Specialization Track) and teaches courses within the School Counseling and Play Therapy specialty areas. Dr. Winburn also has a strong interest in School Based Play Therapy. Over the last 10 years, she has been actively involved in play therapy at the University of Mississippi both at the clinical setting as well as actively conducting research within the field. Other research interest include school counseling, bullying, and advocacy. Her research has been published in journals such as Professional School Counseling and the International Journal of Play Therapy.

Jill Cabrera

Jill Cabrera has 17 years of experience in public education as a classroom teacher as well as campus and district administration in Texas' Rio Grande Valley. After completing her PhD and post-doctoral research at the University of Mississippi, Jill served as an associate professor of educational leadership at Western Kentucky University (2011-2014) and Delta State University (2014-2017). In July 2017, she joined the educational leadership faculty at the University of Mississippi. Jill teaches a variety of courses in MEd, EdS and EdD programs for K-12 educational leadership and has particular interest in courses on instructional leadership and human resource development.  Her research publications have addressed a number of topics pertinent to leaders: conflict and conflict resolution, instructional leadership, teacher preparation, and leadership advocacy.

Christine Lewis

Christine D. Lewis Pugh, Ed.S., LPC, NCC, NCSC is a national board-certified school counselor and doctoral candidate. Christine is a former school counselor and currently working in clinical mental health. While pursuing her doctoral degree, Christine supervises masters level counselor education students, works with fellow counselor educators, and professors conducting research in areas of administration, advocacy, special education, and school counseling. Christine has experience working with diverse populations of children, adolescents, and adults with various needs in clinical, school and community mental health settings.