Implementation Leadership in School Nutrition: A Qualitative Study

Stephanie S Machado; Amanda L Brewster; Valerie B Shapiro; Lorrene D Ritchie; Kiran S Magee; Kristine A Madsen

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2021.08.011

Implementation Leadership in School Nutrition: A Qualitative Study

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2022 Jan;54(1):56-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.08.011. Epub 2021 Oct 31.

Authors

Stephanie S Machado¹, Amanda L Brewster², Valerie B Shapiro³, Lorrene D Ritchie⁴, Kiran S Magee², Kristine A Madsen²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health and Health Services Administration, California State University, Chico, CA; Stephanie Machado was at UC Berkeley in the School of Public Health during the study.. Electronic address: ssmachado@csuchico.edu.
² School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA.
³ School of Social Welfare, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA.
⁴ Nutrition Policy Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Oakland, CA.

PMID: 34728165
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.08.011

Abstract

Objective: This paper identifies implementation leadership characteristics in the school nutrition setting and places findings in the context of implementation leadership literature.

Methods: Fourteen interviews were conducted with school district leadership/staff in an urban school district. Modified grounded theory was employed.

Results: Four themes emerged: (1) understanding of technical/operational intervention details; (2) ability to proactively develop and communicate plans; (3) supervisory oversight; and (4) intervention framing. Themes were consistent with 4 of the 5 dimensions comprising the Implementation Leadership Scale: knowledgeable, proactive, perseverant, and distributed leadership. The supportive domain was not a major finding. An additional domain, how leaders message the intervention to staff, was identified.

Conclusions and implications: Implementation leadership in school nutrition appears similar, but not identical, to leader behaviors present in the Implementation Leadership Scale. School nutrition leaders might consider involving staff early in implementation planning, incorporating technical expertise, and clearly communicating the intervention purpose to support successful implementation. Future research might explore the interplay between leadership and implementation outcomes.

Keywords: implementation science; leadership; school nutrition.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Humans
Leadership*
Qualitative Research
Schools*