Through face-to-face and telephone semi-structured, open ended in-depth
interviews with twenty-one participants, I uncovered personal views of Mr. Clark’s
leadership style. Mr. Clark used an approach and leadership style that was characterized
by the informants as autocratic, dogmatic, immoral, directive, intimidating, charismatic
and caring. The voices of his students, teachers, and administrators speak volumes about
the strategies he developed that made an impact on their lives in addition to reforming
EHS.
Much has been written on the topic of effective strategies and leadership styles in
America’s schools. Mr. Clark had a leadership style that, while controversial, some
would argue was successful.