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Abstract: Abstract The purpose of my doctoral research was to address the question, “How have school improvement strategies been instrumental in school and school system leadership development?” Several authors have indicated that the strength of school leadership is second only to classroom teaching as an influence on student learning and achievement (Leithwood, Louis, Anderson, &Wahlstrom, 2004; Levin, 2008; Pont, Nusche, & Moorman, 2009). However, also reported in the literature is the notion that education is faced with a situation where it may be increasingly difficult to find enough talented and qualified people to fill leadership vacancies (Alberta Education, 2010; Levin, 2008; OECD, 2008). My intention in conducting this research was to make an original contribution to the understanding of leadership development and hence the literature, through an investigation of the province-wide, government-funded Alberta Initiative for School Improvent(AISI) which had been in place since 1999 and received national and international attention as evidenced in the writing of scholars (Hargreaves, Crocker, Davis, Sahlberg, Sumara, & Shirley, 2009; Levin, 2010; Whelan, 2009). Within the case-study methodology, and using purposeful sampling, 19 participants from across Alberta were interviewed over three months so as to explore multiple experiences and perspectives. These participants experienced leadership in a variety of ways that had not been available to them prior to the inception of AISI. Interview data were supported by document review for historical information as well as my researcher’s journal that provided both chronological documentation and my personal reflections throughout the research. Data analysis and interpretations of how AISI leaders believed various actions, events and experiences prepared them to fulfill formal leadership roles resulted in the construction of three major themes: Developing Skills, Expanding Understanding of the Work Context, and Transitioning to Action. Based on research findings, this study concludes with implications and recommendations for theory along with policy and practice directed at institutions that develop teachers, at school systems and at schools, as well as possibilities for further research relative to school and school system leadership development.

Laser atomic absorption spectroscopy was employed to investigate the plasma created during processing of AISI 52100 steel with a diode-pumped Nd:YAG slab laser. A tunable ring-dye laser was focused into various points throughout the plume and the dye laser frequency detuned across several low-lying transitions of Fe I. Absorption profiles were collected at time intervals from 3--12mus, average powers from 80--260W and a speed of 0.8mm/s. The absorption profiles were used to calculate atomic densities using an Abel inversion technique and the electronic temperatures via atomic Boltzmann plots. The resulting atomic densities and temperatures of the plume were mapped graphically. Broadening mechanisms were considered, and emission spectroscopy and time-of-flight measurements were also obtained. Atomic densities were determined for the lower energy levels of three Fe I transitions. The peak densities were on the order of 1016, 1014 and 1013cm-3 for the lower levels of the 446.29, 446.03 and 446.78nm transitions, respectively. Line broadening was determined to be a combination Doppler and Stark broadening. At early delays, as the power increased, the densities of the transitions studied increased at the top portions of the plume. The plume also widened with power. The lifetime of plume atoms in excited states was no more than 12mus. The peak electronic temperatures within the plume ranged from 4800--7500K. If time averaged, these temperatures were in agreement with time-averaged temperatures from emission spectroscopy. The highest temperatures were at 3mus with cooling rates on the order of 108K/s. The average gas temperature was determined from Doppler widths and found to be 6000K, thus indicating similar electronic and gas temperatures. The kinetic velocity of the iron atoms was on the order of 103m/s and in agreement with time-of-flight velocity measurements. The depth of penetration in the coupons was 1.3--5.1 mm. The remelt layer was composed of martensite, and the microstructure in the heat affected zone consisted of a mix of spheroidal chromium carbides within a ferrite matrix. This work represents the first comprehensive characterization of atomic species within a plasma created during processing of a ferrous alloy using a high brightness, diode-pumped Nd:YAG slab laser.