Addressing the Challenge of Preparing Assistant Principals for the Principalship in Moore County

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Tim Locklair (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: This problem of practice study attempted to address the challenge of preparing assistant principals for the principalship in Moore County. Across the nation and state , it is a challenge to fill vacant principalships with quality candidates. This problem is magnified in rural school districts. Moore County has had an over 34% principal turnover rate over the last two years. While this turnover on its own was not necessarily negative , it did indicate the strategic need for Moore County to build a pipeline of principal ready candidates. Utilizing a Plan , Do , Study , Act improvement science process , a school leadership academy that involved a small cohort of 9 assistant principals was designed and implemented to address this problem. The design included year-long face-to-face meetings; internal and external professional learning opportunities; standards-based leadership assessments; exposure to leadership experts; and a principal screening interview. The data and observations from this study indicate that this improvement strategy had a positive impact on the problem. Additional recommendations and implications are shared that are applicable to principal preparation programs and school district leadership development initiatives.

Additional Information

Publication

Dissertation

Language: English

Date: 2019

Keywords

principal preparation, school leadership development

Subjects

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