The principal and school bullying: an examination of the administrator's ability to positively impact the culture of bullying in a school

School bullying is a topic that has received a great deal of attention over the last several years. School personnel have been inundated with law, policy, and public outcry about this serious issue. Administrators have at times been overwhelmed by the conversation surrounding school bullying. Even though their stories are seldom heard, there are many schools that are experiencing great success in the area of bully prevention. There is a pressing need for administrators to hear those stories and understand how they can make a difference. As such, this qualitative study examined how the principal can positively impact the culture of bullying in a school. A case study approach of three exemplar schools was used for this study. The principal along with three additional staff leaders from each school were interviewed. Observations at each school were also conducted. The data were used to create a story about each school and the role the principal plays in positively shaping the culture around bullying at that school. The findings of this study reveal that the principal is influenced in his or her approach to bullying by a variety of factors including prior experiences, preexisting attitudes and perceptions, and legal guidelines. As such, the effective principal purposefully engages existing attitudes and perceptions and assumes the responsibility of influencing those attitudes and perceptions by leading on the issue of bullying. This study reveals that leading involves both communication and actions. The findings of this study highlight the importance of the principal in establishing positive school culture