Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Dissertation

Keywords

High school principals--Vocational guidance--Iowa; High school principals--Training of--Iowa; High school principals--Job satisfaction--Iowa;

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out from educators who held the requisite credentials to be a secondary principal, but were not serving in that position, why fewer licensed educators are choosing to apply for secondary principal positions. This investigation was initiated because a shortage of qualified secondary principals in the state of Iowa had been indicated.

Four research questions were utilized with a quantitative research approach. A survey instrument was mailed to a sample of Iowa educators holding the Iowa 7-12 principal license but not serving 7-12 principal positions. The final sample included 131 responses which represented a return rate of 67%. Descriptive statistics were used to report findings from the survey.

At the time of this study, 79% of the licensed population—most were teachers—were not seeking a 7-12 principal position. Most sought and obtained the 7-12 principal preparation and license to broaden their knowledge base, for an opportunity to use leadership skills, and for higher pay. Major barriers or dissatisfiers to their seeking or securing a 7-12 principal position were too much time spent on discipline and personnel issues, satisfaction with current job, and inability or undesirability to relocate. Individuals' willingness to apply could be positively influenced by a decrease in the responsibilities and expectations associated with the position, the possibility of a job in the right location and by support from community, parents, and administration.

Although most of the respondents indicated they would not be seeking a 7-12 principalship in the near future, many of them (45.7%) had applied for a 7-12 principal position but had not been offered or accepted one. This, and respondents' comments regarding the large number of applicants for principal jobs for which they applied or of which they were aware, raise questions about a shortage in terms of actual numbers of applicants for 7-12 principal positions. Further research is warranted.

Year of Submission

2003

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Department of Educational Leadership, Counseling, and Postsecondary Education

First Advisor

David Else, Chair

Date Original

5-2003

Object Description

1 PDF file (x, 136 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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