Michelle Chaplin Partlow, Ph.D.

Michelle Chaplin Partlow, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, Teaching/Instructional
Dept. of Psychological, Organizational, & Leadership Studies in Education

264 Ritter Hall
1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave.
College of Education
Philadelphia, PA 19122

partlow@temple.edu
phone/fax: (215) 204-6332 / (215) 204-2743

Education

  • Ph.D., Educational Leadership, University of Dayton
  • M.S., Educational Counseling, University of Pennsylvania
  • B. A., Chemistry , University of Pennsylvania

Areas of Professional Interest

  • Since 1999 I have worked as a full time faculty member preparing teachers for a master’s degree in Educational Leadership or for administrative positions.  I completed my Ph. D. in 2004 studying principal turnover and elements that lead to turnover. 

    I use my extensive background as a professional educator in K-12 public schools  for over 30 years to inform my teaching and prepare students for what they can expect as a school leader.  Formerly a principal for 17 years in PA and NJ, I led several kinds of schools including a school for the creative and performing arts and an ESL magnet school where 17 languages were spoken.  Much of my experience was in inner city schools with diverse student populations.  I was nominated for Principal of the Year in the city of Philadelphia. 

    My goals are to keep current with the research on successful schools, stay informed on best practices, and combine these with theory and the literature so that my students will be prepared to assume leadership positions.  I do this by spending time in schools, making my classes a combination of theory and practice, and creating learning communities so that students learn to collaborate and use the expertise of their colleagues to improve.

     I have worked with public, private, and parochial K-12 schools as a consultant to improve instruction.  I led workshops in building learning communities, leadership, instructional strategies and models, dealing with diversity, visioning, and collaborative decision-making.  I have led four Principal Academies in PA and OH. As part of these, I mentored and coached new and experienced principals.

    Recently I became the Director of Leadership Certification for the department. I advise all certification students and supervise the administrative internships (Field Experience courses). My research has focused on principal issues –turnover, parent involvement, and the importance of instructional leadership which doesn’t always focus on PSSA tests. My recent publications were chapters in a book called Principals Who Dare to Care and an article in the Journal of School Leadership, named Parents, Principals and Power: A Historical Case Study of “Managing” Parental Involvement.

Recent Scholarship

Partlow, M. C., & Ridenour, C. (2007). Frequency of principal turnover in Ohio’s elementary schools. Under Review of Midwestern Educational Researcher.

Partlow, M. C. (2006). Contextual factors related to elementary principal turnover. Accepted by Planning and Changing: An Educational Leadership and Policy Journal.

Schaller, M. A., Hunley, S, A., Partlow, M., & Demmit, A. (2005). Living / Learning spaces and interdisciplinary programs: The faculty connection. Under Review of Review of Higher Education.