Academics

LMU Graduate Faculty


Dr.Cynthia Norris  Cynthia J. Norris
  Professor, Graduate Education
  865-524-5936
  cynthia.norris@lmunet.edu








Education

EdD in Educational Administration with collateral in Organizational Behavior, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
MS in Special Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
BS in Elementary Education, Tennessee Weslyan College, Athens, Tennessee

Other Teaching Experience

  • Athens City Schools, Athens, Tennessee, 1964-1974, Teacher
  • Athens City Schools, Athens, Tennessee, 1974-1984, Special Education Supervisor
  • Westside Elementary School, Athens, Tennessee, 1984-1986, Principal
  • University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, 1982-1986, Adjunct Professor
  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1986, Adjunct Professor
  • University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 1986-1998, Associate Professor
  • University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1998-2005, Visiting Associate Professor

Honors and Awards

  • Finalist for Outstanding Research Award, American Association School Administrators, 1984
  • Outstanding Research Award, Phi Delta Kappa, University of Tennessee Chapter, 1985
  • Career Level III School Administrator Award presented by Tennessee Education Agency, 1986
  • Who’s Who of American Women, 1987
  • International Directory of Distinguished Leadership, 1988
  • Co-Facilitator: University of Houston - Danforth Foundation Program for the Preparation of School Principals, 1988-1994 Designed and facilitated the development of an innovative pilot program concerned with the preparation of school principals. The pilot provided the impetus for many innovations now institutionalized into current administrator preparation programs.
  • Executive Director: University of Houston – Metro-Houston Administrator Assessment and Development Center (NASSP), 1989-1992 Directed the assessment and development activities of the center designed to provide assistance to local school districts in the selection and development of school principals.
  • Merit Status, University of Houston, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
  • Who’s Who in American Education, 1989-1990; 1992-1993; 1993-1994
  • Director: University of Houston – Houston Area Urban Principals Institute, 1994-1996 Served as the facilitator and director of a network designed to foster continuing collaboration between the College of Education and area school principals.  The Institute’s major thrust was the study of urban school issues.
  • Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, 1996-1997
  • Merit Status, University of Tennessee, 2001; 2002

Professional Presentations

  • Preparation of school principals: Diagnostic programming for adults.  Presented to the American Association School Administrators Annual Conference.  Orlando, FL.  March, 1989.
  • A study of metaphorical perceptions of organizational behavior.  Presented to the University Council for Educational Administration.  Scottsdale, AZ.  October, 1989.
  • A holistic analysis of selected Danforth students’ personality, values, and problem solving styles in relationship to current leadership performance.  Presented to the University Council of Educational Administration.  Minneapolis, MN.  November, 1992.
  • Assessment: Diagnostic/prescriptive teaching.  Danforth Principal Preparation Network.  Houston, TX.  November, 1993.
  • Exploring the impact of cohorts on preparation programs and administrative practices in schools.  American Association of School Administrators (AASA).  San Francisco, CA.  February, 1994.
  • Cultivating a new leadership paradigm: From cohorts to communities.  Presented tot he University Council of School Administrators.  Philadelphia, PA.  October, 1994.
  • Conversations with field based mentors and university interns.  Presented to the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).  New Orleans, LA.  February, 1995.
  • Invited Speaker: UCEA Graduate Seminar, American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, April 1995
  • The moral imperatives of leadership.  Invited address presented to the AERA Graduate Seminar.  American Educational Research Association annual meeting (sponsored by UCEA).  San Francisco, CA.  April, 1995.
  • Developing creative leaders for empowered schools.  Presented to the University Council of School Administrators.  Salt Lake City, UT.  November, 1995.
  • Using cohorts in the development of school leaders.  Presented to the Association of Management.  Vancouver, Canada, 1995.
  • Creative educational leadership.  Presented to the Center for Applications of Psychological Type (CAPT) Conference.  Orlando, FL.  March, 1996.
  • Implications of psychological type and measures of creativity for the preparation of school administrators.  Presented to the Center for Applications of Psychological Type (CAPT) Conference.  Orlando, FL.  March, 1996.
  • Developing participatory leadership style through a cohort experience.  Presented to the American Association of School Administrators Annual Meeting.  San Diego, CA.  March, 1996.
  • Cultivating transformational leadership through cohort development in educational Leadership programs.  Presented to the American Educational Research Association.  New York, April, 1996. 
  • Structures & instructional strategies used in educational leadership cohorts.  Presented to the American Educational Research Association.  New York, NY.  April, 1996.
  • A community of learners: University and district collaboration.  Presented to the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration.  Corpus Christi, TX.  August, 1996.
  • Portraitures of leadership.  Presented to the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration.  Corpus Christi, TX.  August, 1996.
  • Cycle II, Danforth Foundation principal preparation project: Reforming principal preparation programs.  Presented to the University Council for Educational Administration, Cincinnati, OH, October, 1998.
  • The development of platforms in leadership programs: Perspectives and prospects.  Presented to the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) Annual Conference, Louisville, KY. October, 2000.
  • Learning communities and the ethic of care. Presented to the American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, April, 2001.
  • Portfolios in educational administration programs. Presented to the University Council of Educational Administration (UCEA) Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon, November, 2003.
  • Invited Speaker: Fulbright 6th International Summer Institute, Pamporovo, Bulgaria, August 2- 14, 2004.
  • The Synergy of Community:  Working Together in Groups Transformational learning for transformational leadership. Presented to the University Council Council of Educational Administration (UCEA) Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO, November, 2004.
  • Educational Administration Preparation Programs: Cohorts. Presented to the University Council of Educational Administration (UCEA) Annual Conference, Nashville, TN, Novermber, 2005.

Research

  • Characteristics and Attributes of Successful Cohort Groups in Educational Administration.  Limited Grant-in-Aid, UH.  Funding level $2,500.
  • Cohorts: Effects on Principal Preparation and Leadership Practice.  Danforth mini-grant.  Funding level $4,890.
  • Danforth Mini-Grant for Developing a Research Project on the Use of Cohorts in Danforth Supported Programs.  Funding level $2,900.
  • Cohort Study.  Danforth Foundation.  Funding level: $1,900.  1993-94, 1994-95.
  • Cohort Study.  The Effects of Cohort Gropus on Principal Preparation and Leadership Practice.  Danforth Foundation.  Funding level: $2,500.  1992-93.
  • The Identification of Development of School Principals in Partnership with School Districts, Universities and State Departments.  Danforth Foundation.  Funding level $500.  1992-1993.
  • Danforth/Assessment Center.  Awarded by the Danforth Foundation.  Project Developer/Director: Cynthia J. Norris.  Funding level $7,000.  1991-92.
  • Danforth/Assessment Center.  Awarded by the Danforth Foundation.  Funding level $11,000.  1991-92.
  • Metro-Houston Administrator Assessment and Development Center.  Funding level $50,000.  1989-91.
  • Metro-Houston Administrator Assessment and Development Center.  Funding level $50,000.  1989-1991. Performance Based Accreditation funded by the Texas Education Agency.  Project Developer/Director: Cynthia J. Norris.  Funding Level: $25,000.  April, 1987.
  • Study of the Status of Principal Selection and Development.  Funded by the Economic Education Populace Council.  Austin, Texas, Member of the Research Team.  Co- Principal Investigator. Funding Level: $40,000.  1992.
  • Basom, M., Yerkes, D., Norris, C., and Barnett, B. (1994).  Cohorts: Effects on principal preparation and leadership practice.  Research report sponsored by the Danforth Foundation, St. Louis, Missouri.
  • Norris, C., Hughes, L., and DeFrank, R. (1992).  The status of principal selection and development: A comparision of past and future conceptualizations of the roles of principals and middle managers. Research Report prepared for Texas Educational Economic Policy, Austin, Texas.

Publications

  • Norris, C. (1985).  A discussion of brain hemisphere characteristics and creative leadership among selected educational administrators in Tennessee.  Leaders in Education, EA 018-439.
  • Norris, C., (1985).  Brain dominance patterns of Tennessee school leaders.  Conference presentation to Mid South Educational Research Association.  Leaders in Education, EA 018094.
  • Norris, C. (1985).  Administrator’s brain dominance affects innovative leadership.  The School Administrator, 42 (7), 17.
  • Norris, C. (1986).  Who will provide education’s visions of the future?  International Brain Dominance Review, 3 (2), 11-15.
  • Achilles, C., and Norris, C. (1987).  Vignette: Alas!  A Report of a non commission on excellence in leadership.  National Forum of Educational Administration and Supervision Journal, 5 (1), 103-106.
  • Norris, C. (1987).  Brain dominance styles of selected educational leaders in Tennessee: Who will champion educational reform?  Tennessee Education, 17 (2).
  • Norris, C. (1988).  Effective schools research as a basis for statewide accreditation.  Resources in Education, EA 020741.
  • Norris, C. (1988).  A practical model to prepare for campus level accreditation.  Texas Study Research Journal, 4 (43), 18-28.
  • Norris, C., and Achilles, C. (1988).   Intuitive leadership: A New dimension for educational leadership.  Planning and Changing, 19 (2), 108-117.
  • Norris, C. (1989).  Creating the vision: Training model.  Developed for Harris County Department of Education, Houston, Texas.
  • Norris, C. (1989).  Team building: Training model.  Developed for Harris County Department of Education, Houston, Texas.
  • Norris, C. and Achilles, C. (1991).  Developing the vision.  Southeastern Educational Improvement Laboratory (SEIL).  Research Triangle Park: N.C.
  • Norris, C. (1990).  Developing visionary leaders for tomorrow’s schools.  NASSP Bulletin, 74 (536), 6-10.
  • Norris, C. (1991).  Supervising with style.  Theory Into Practice, 30 (2), 128-133.
  • Craig, R. and Norris, C. (1991).  Values perception and future educational leaders.  Journal of School Leadership, 1 (3), 222-234.
  • Norris, C. (1991).  Developing a vision of the humane school in The Moral Imperatives of Leadership: A Focus on Human Decency, National Network in Innovative Principal Preparation, Memphis, TN: Memphis State University, 106-128.
  • Barnett, B., McQuarrie, F., and Norris, C. (1991).  (Eds.)  The Moral imperatives of leadership:  A Focus on human decency.  National Network for Innovative Principal Preparation, Memphis, TN: Memphis State University.
  • Norris, C. and De Frank, R. (1992).  The status of principal selection and development: a comparison of past and future conceptualizations of the roles of principals and middle managers.  Report prepared for Texas Educational Economic Policy Center, Austin, Texas.
  • Craig, R. and Norris, C. (1992).  A holistic approach to educational leadership programs.  Record in Educational Administration.  13 (1), 50-53.
  • Norris, C. and Craig, R. (1992). Charismatic leadership: Revisited.  Journal of Research for School Executives, 1 (2), 23-29.
  • Craig, R., Guetzow, E., and Norris, C. (1994).  The values and leadership characteristics of three elementary school educational leaders and teachers’ perceptions of school effectiveness.  Record in Educational Administration, 1 (3).
  • Basom, M., Yerkes, D., Norris, C., and Barnett, B. (1994).  Self-Renewal.  International Journal of Educational Reform (Eds. F. English and H. Walberg) (3).
  • Basom, M., Yerkes, D., Norris, C., and Barnett, B. (1994).  Exploring cohorts: Effects on principal preparation and leadership practice.   Connections, 2 (3), 1, 5-8.
  • Basom, M., Yerkes, D., Norris, C., and Barnett, B. (1994).  Cohorts: Effects on principal preparation and leadership practice.  Research report sponsored by the Danforth Foundation, St. Louis, Missouri.
  • Norris, C. (1994). Cultivating creative cultures. In L. Hughes (ed.), The principal as leader, Columbus, Ohio: Merrill, pp. 59-88.
  • Yerkes, D., Basom, M., Barnett, B., and Norris, C. (1995).  Using cohorts in the development of school leaders.  Educational Studies and Research, 13, 1, 227- 241.  Proceedings from the Association of Management Annual Meeting.
  • Yerkes, D., Basom, M., Barnett, B., and Norris, C. (1995).  Cohorts today: Considerations of structure, characteristics, and potential effects.  The Journal of California Association of Professors of Educational Administration (CAPEA), Fall.
  • Yerkes, D., Basom, M., Barnett, B., and Norris, C. (1995).  Exploring cohorts: Effects on principal preparation and leadership practice.  University of Oregon Clearinghouse on Educational Management, ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EA.
  • Meisgeier, C., Norris, C., and Hermond, D.  (1996).  Implications of psychological type and measures of creativity for the preparation of school administrators.  Quality Education, Evaluation and Revolution.  Orlando, Florida.  Center for Applications of Psychological Type.
  • Norris, C., Hermond, D., and Meisgeier, C. (1996).  Creative educational leadership.  Quality Education, Evaluation and Revolution.  Orlando, Florida.  Center for Applications of Psychological Type Annual Conference.
  • Basom, M., Yerkes, D., Norris, C., and Barnett, B. (1996).  Using cohorts as a way to develop transformational leaders.  The Journal of School Leadership, 7, 7-19.
  • Basom, M., Yerkes, D., Barnett, B., and Norris, C.  (1996).  A backward glance: Cohorts in educational leadership programs.  Record in Educational Administration.
  • Norris, C., Herman, D., and Meisgeier, C.  (1996).  Developing creative leaders for empowered schools.  National Forum of Educational Administration and Supervision Journal, 14 (1).
  • Meisgeier, C., Norris, C., and Hermond, D.  (1997). Psychological type and measures of creativity in aspiring educational administrators.  Journal of Psychological Type.
  • Norris, C., Barnett, B., Basom, and Yerkes, D. (1997).  The Cohort: A vehicle for building transformation leadership skills.  Planning and Changing, 27, 165-179.
  • Norris, C. (1999). Cultivating creative cultures. In L. Hughes (ed.), The principal as leader,2nd ed. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill, pp. 59-88.
  • Barnett, B., Basom, M., Yerkes, D., and Norris, C.  (2000).  Cohorts in educational leadership programs: Benefits, difficulties and the potential for developing school leaders.  Educational Administration Quarterly.
  • Ubben, G., Hughes, L., & Norris, C. (2002). The principal (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
  • Norris, C., Barnett, B., Basom, M., and Yerkes, D.  (2002).  The learning community: A model for developing educational leaders.  New York: Teacher’s College Press.
  • Norris, C. (2003).  A journey toward self-discovery: Developing leadership artistry Through community.  National Forum Educational Administration and Supervision Journal 20 (2).
  • Ubben, G., Hughes, L. & Norris, C (2004). The principal (5th ed.). Boston: Allyn And Bacon.
  • Norris, C. (Fall, 2005). The earth is not flat anymore: Reflections on the impact of a rural/urban educational leadership exchange on place-based instruction. Educational Considerations  33 (1), 16-24.
  • Ubben, G., Hughes, L. & Norris, C (2006). The principal (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn And Bacon
  • Ubben, G. Hughes, L. & Norris, C. ( In Press, New Edition). The principal (7th ed.).  Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Professonal and Scholarly Affiliations

  • Phi Kappa Phi
  • Phi Delta Kappa
  • Alpha Chi