Leigh Wallace, PhD

Dr. Wallace’s research focuses on leadership in K-12 educational settings. A former high school English teacher and building administrator, she is particularly interested in exploring the role of the high school principal and assistant principal, with a focus on both early-stage administrators and “career” building level administrators, specifically assistant principals. Recent work is focused on district level leadership structures and questions related to equity, access, and reducing the achievement gap. Dr. Wallace also studies family-school engagement, full-service community school initiatives, and collaborative qualitative research.

As the program coordinator for Administrative Leadership and Supervision, Dr. Wallace serves as the primary contact for students seeking K12 administrative licensure. Her primary teaching responsibilities currently include courses related to organizational theory, school culture and climate, organizational change and team leadership, and instructional/curriculum leadership.

She has eight years of teaching and five years of secondary school administrative experience, and has served as a UWM Panther Cheer Coach since 1995. After receiving a graduate degree in Secondary English Education, Wallace received her Ph.D. in 2007 from University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with her dissertation: Parents' Perceptions of Involvement in an Urban Community School.

Education

PhD, Urban Education | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Education
MA, Education | University of Kentucky
BA, Education | University of Kentucky