Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to describe what behaviors California bellwether high school principals exhibit to model a personal commitment to lifelong learning and to determine which of the modeled behaviors of a lifelong learner are observable by the principal's teaching and support staff. Methodology. The researcher used descriptive research. Qualitative case studies were used to collect the research data. A panel of experts selected the six high school principals studied. Parallel questionnaires were used to interview the principals and focus groups of the principals' teaching and support staffs. The data from the study were analyzed by qualitative inquiry methods of inductive reasoning to formulate generations. Findings. The findings indicated that the school principals studied modeled: (1) receptivity and commitment to lifelong learning; (2) use of multiple means and opportunities for lifelong learning; (3) ability to demonstrate lifelong learning through innovation and risk taking; (4) character traits related to lifelong learning; (5) ability to inspire others' lifelong learning; (6) support of others' efforts as lifelong learners. Conclusions and recommendation. (1) Principals hold commitment to personal and school-wide lifelong learning; (2) principals who model lifelong learning must make it a practice to seek a variety of avenues for lifelong learning; (3) principals must meld previous learning with new opportunities to learn through innovation and risk taking; (4) principals should develop or strengthen character traits of leaders who model lifelong learning; (5) principals are able to inspire others to become lifelong learners through modeling; (6) principals indirectly inspire others to become lifelong learners. Among the recommendations for principals are: (1) maintain a commitment to lifelong learning; (2) follow through on lifelong learning plans; (3) develop character traits that support modeling of lifelong learning; (4) keep students' learning needs at the forefront of all personal and school-wide lifelong learning.