UC Berkeley

This study investigates how classified staff across one school district are experiencing communication from the district’s school leaders. Classified staff are essential personnel in terms of school districts achieving their overall educational goals. Their roles in the district are mediated through communication with district leaders, however, effective communication is often not taught as a leadership skill. Through a qualitative single case study within a Bay Area school district, I explore how classified staff perceive communication with their supervisors, examining the impact of these perceptions on their roles, work efficacy, inclusion, and sense of belonging within the school culture. I conducted a demographic questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with 18 classified staff members across this Bay Area school district during the summer and fall of 2023. Findings revealed a unanimous sense of exclusion among all participants concerning professional development and a perceived lack of acknowledgment or appreciation from administrators. Findings also revealed that peer dynamics among classified and certificated staff were generally positive, with classified staff holding certificated staff in high regard. Finally, classified staff reported experiencing inequitable treatment based on racial factors, leading to the resignation of staff members from diverse backgrounds.

The study suggests the need for targeted staff development programs tailored specifically for classified staff, and for adoption of an equity-centered communication channel that facilitates interactions in multiple languages. District policies and practices should incorporate distributed leadership strategies and foster an inclusive staff culture that values the contributions of classified staff. Given the limited research on the experiences of classified staff in schools, future research endeavors could focus on exploring distributed leadership in depth, amplifying the voices of classified staff, and gaining a more profound understanding of their unique experiences.