While the importance of principals has long been recognized by educators and researchers, empirical studies on the effectiveness and distribution of principals have been undermined by the lack of data to study principals, their complex work, and their impact on school outcomes. In fact, "little systematic evidence exists about the…

Data available from a handful of states suggest that only about half of beginning principals remain in the same job five years later, and that many leave the principalship altogether when they go. Whether this apparent churn in the principal's office signals a problem, progress, or business as usual seems to be a matter for debate, though. Among…

This brief highlights what principals say about their work, especially about how the job has changed and what factors most affect job performance and satisfaction. The data have been culled from various surveys, reports, interviews, and so forth published since 2000. Specific attention is given to the degree to which concerns about addressing…

Concludes that there is a need for programs that will help urban school principals develop skills for dealing with job-related stress. (FL)

Many districts are struggling with the problem of administrator retention. Hoffman (2004) identifies some of the reasons for this: (1) Increased accountability expectations; (2) Diminished or static levels of resources to support reform efforts; (3) Greater administrator vulnerability to sanctions; (4) The complex demands of government and the…

This paper is one of a series to guide research linking educational policy and management with student achievement. It specifies the determinants of key paradigm variables and teacher and principal work. The paradigm developed for this type of research is presented in an earlier paper in the series. The constructs of the paradigm are defined,…

Administrative isolation involves the absence of colleagues to share problems, seek advice, offer and receive feedback, and obtain valid information regarding one's professional effectiveness. This condition of administrative isolation is exacerbated for women in administrative roles who are further isolated by their minority status. This paper…

This study looked at the occupational positions that constitute educational administration and analyzed how they are characterized and structured. Data were collected between September, 1974, and April, 1979, principally from southern California school districts. The method of data collection was ethnographic observation in schools and interviews…

The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) serves two important purposes for the educational community. The first purpose, at which SASS has been very successful, is providing data that describe and track over time the state of schools and staffing (the capacities of teachers, school libraries, schools, and school districts, and the organization of…

Because rural Alaska educators were skeptical of the applicability to their teaching situations of various educational research results, researchers randomly surveyed rural Alaskan teachers to provide background information for the Rural Effective Schools Project and for educators who want to help rural schools increase their effectiveness. Three…

This study examined the work-related stress experienced by principals and teachers in public schools. The researchers worked under the assumption that some of the stress related to a job situation comes from the environment. Condensed versions of two questionnaires developed by Williams (measuring stress experienced by teachers) and Jankovich…