DEDICATION

Perhaps the great writer Washington Irving said it best, “A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us, when adversity takes the place of prosperity, when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”

Through all of life’s twists and turns, highs and lows, exhilarating victories and depressing defeats, my mother has been there for me. Without the examples of faith, hope, and perseverance she has modeled over the years, I never could have achieved this lofty dream which is now a reality.

George Washington, our first president, once said, “All I am, I owe to my mother. I attribute all my successes in life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education I received from her.” Truer words were never spoken. I can only hope that when considering our lives together I will be able to quote the humorous Mark Twain who said, “My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it!”

It is with deepest love, respect, and admiration that I dedicate this dissertation to my mother, Irma Thomann Domecq.

“Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; a mother’s secret hope outlives them all.”

Oliver Wendell Homes

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To Caroline Cecilia Domecq, my oldest daughter, in hope that one day you will understand why I do what I do.

To Christine Elizabeth Domecq, you will never know how much the love in your eyes has been a source of motivation throughout this dissertation.

To Derek John Domecq, although I know it is impossible for a man to live-up to the perception of who he is in the eyes of his son, I hope that this achievement, in some small way, helps.

To my soon to be born fourth child, thank you for waiting until after I finished defending this dissertation.

To John and Lucille Thomann, my grandparents, who without their love and support all of this would have been impossible.

To Jim Esposito, my advisor, whose passion for excellence is apparent in all that he does. His motivational guidance, intellectual tenacity, and editing skills are unsurpassed.

To Don Ball for not only making me believe I can turn anything into a “Z”, but for being a model teacher who has a true gift for making the complex simple.

To Hal Burbach whose compassionate view of the world gave me a deeper perspective of what is truly important.

To Al Butler who convinced me that everything is not a crisis. I marvel at his patience and experience.

To Kevin Trower who showed through his example the importance of helping others and the value of humility in the face of greatness.

To Terry Holland and Ralph Law who brought me to Charlottesville . Had either of you not made the decisions you did, none of this could have happened.

To Lynn Canady, my master’s advisor, for his leadership and wise counsel.

To Irving Jones for his encouragement to pursue this doctorate and his guidance in learning the awesome responsibilities of a high school administrator.

To Mozell Booker who nominated me for the 1992 Central Virginia Outstanding Educator Award. That recognition served as true inspiration to achieve this degree.

To Jim Huneycutt who always let me know how much he valued me even when I did not feel particularly valuable.

To Andy Anderson who unselfishly gave of his time to discuss statistics, dissertations, and anything other than sports whenever I called.

To Helen Lockwood and Cheryl Brown Davis who gave me the opportunity to dream impossible dreams and know they could come true.

To the Faculty, Staff, and Students of Monticello High School whose love, care, and concern over the years inspired me to complete this dissertation.

To the Faculty, Staff, and Students of Western Albemarle High School who have taught me in a short period of time that being great is not enough when being incredible is your destiny.

To Julie Domecq, my wife, who is the most patient and understanding person I know. In 1991 when we were married for better or worse, I did not know they meant I could not have done better and she couldn’t have done worse! Seriously, it is said that a leader has two important characteristics. First, he knows where he is going, and second, he can persuade others to go with him. I’m glad you decided to join me.

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About Author

Greg Domecq -
About the Author:

 

 

Greg Domecq is in his seventh year as the Associate Principal at Western Albemarle High School in Crozet, Virginia. In May of 2009, Domecq was presented the Alton L. Taylor Award from the University of Virginia Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa naming him the outstanding administrator in the region. Domecq’s current responsibilities at Western include support for the English and Special Services Departments as well as the collaborative initiative, coordinating substitutes, the honor council, transportation, and 10th & 11th grade discipline. Over the years at WAHS, Dr. Domecq has also had oversight of the athletic department, Physical Education Department, textbooks, and teacher duty. On the county level, Domecq served on several committees including the School Business Alliance, the high school discipline steering committee, the behavior management committee, the International Baccalaureate Exploratory team, and the Teacher Performance Appraisal Steering Committee. He is credited with writing the TPA Process Manual, a user-friendly handbook that outlines the implementation of the Teacher Performance Appraisal model.

During Domecq’s tenure at the Crozet school, the Warriors have been recognized for several outstanding accomplishments. A few of these accolades are as follows:

• WAHS was identified in January of 2008 as one of only ten high schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence.
• Western consistently earned SAT scores more than one hundred points over the Virginia and National averages. These scores catapulted the school to a national ranking of 401 by Newsweek magazine in 2006.
• The Warrior Athletic Department earned the prestigious Wachovia Cup for the first time in 2004 recognizing WAHS as the best all-around AA program in the state. Western captured the award again in 2005 becoming only the third school in history to earn back-to-back titles. The Warriors returned to the top-of-the-list for the third time after the 2008 school year.

In 2004 Domecq earned his doctorate in Administration and Supervision from the Curry School at the University of Virginia. His minor areas included Curriculum and Instruction as well as Social Foundations in Education. His dissertation topic, “A Ninth Grade Transition Program, ” studied the results of the Summer Leadership Academy at Monticello High School. Domecq has given numerous presentations in the Charlottesville area including visits to the University of Virginia, Piedmont Virginia Community College, Mary Baldwin College, State Farm Insurance, and the Waynesboro Kiwanis Club.

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