MAS Leader’s Doctorate Sheds Light on the Role of Middle Managers in Schools

When Dr. Janice Julal began her doctoral studies in the fall of 2019, the world was months away from a global health pandemic, with the field of education on the cusp of transformation. For this Mission Achievement and Success (MAS) Charter School leader, that meant the intervening years would become a period of intense learning, deep reflection, and eventual achievement.

This spring, Dr. Julal, raised in warm, sunny, and beautiful Jamaica, completed her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership through a joint program between Church Teachers’ College in her island country and Temple University in Philadelphia. 

Her dissertation, titled Explaining the Nexus Between Leadership and School Effectiveness in Jamaican Secondary Schools: A Focus on the Role of the Middle Manager, offers a fresh, compelling look at how middle managers influence school performance in systems often dominated by top-down decision-making.

Dr. Julal’s academic roots are firmly planted in the Caribbean. She holds a Master of Arts in English Language and a Bachelor of Education in Linguistics and Literature from the University of the West Indies. She also earned a diploma in Secondary Education from Shortwood Teachers’ College, the recognized professional qualification degree for teachers in Jamaica. Rounding out her credentials are a certificate in Supervisory Management from Temple University and the “Professional Qualification” for Principalship from the National College for Educational Leadership.

The Power of the In-Between: Rethinking Middle Management in Education

Focusing on the overlooked, yet important role of department heads and grade-level coordinators, her research uncovers ways in which distributed leadership can transform school culture and student outcomes. Through qualitative analysis, Dr. Julal mapped how these leaders shoulder instructional, strategic, and developmental responsibilities — often without the autonomy or recognition granted to principals or executive administrators.

“I initially thought that middle managers in high-performing schools would face fewer challenges,” Dr. Julal told us, “But many still struggled with limited authority and systemic rigidity.” Her findings point to a surprising paradox: Even in successful institutions, middle managers often wrestle with barriers that inhibit innovation and collaboration. And yet, they remain committed to nurturing environments of academic excellence and continuous improvement.

Today, Dr. Julal’s studies enlighten her work here at MAS, where she’s championing professional development models that elevate leadership at every level. “We’re investing in staff through coaching and structures that promote shared leadership,” she said, noting that the insights from her dissertation are already finding a second life in the school’s leadership pipeline.

Rest, Reflection, and the Road Forward

Beyond the school walls, Dr. Julal is contributing to broader efforts as part of the New Mexico College and Career Pathways Alliance, an organization that develops and advances a statewide vision for college and career readiness and a long-term approach holistically transforming high schools to become engaging places that prepare students to feel successful, secure in who they are, and ready for whatever path they choose. There, she lends her voice to statewide policy discussions aimed at shaping the future of Kindergarten through 12^th-grade education, with a particular interest in leadership development for rising school leaders.

Still, after the long journey to her doctorate, she’s allowing herself a moment to pause. “I look forward to resting and reflecting,” she told us, “before fully stepping into this exciting next chapter.” 

With the end of 2024-2025 school year just a few weeks away, that seems entirely possible. 

If you know Dr. Julal, it comes as no surprise that she credits much of her success to a wide network of support. “I’m deeply grateful to my dissertation committee, my mentors, and my family,” she said. “And to my MAS colleagues, thank you for believing in the power of leadership and for making this journey so meaningful.”

In a field often defined by high-stakes accountability and change, Dr. Julal’s research stands as a reminder that those in the middle — especially those who may be overlooked — might be the key to unlocking a better future of education.