Principal Candidates’ Reflective Learning During a Full-Time Internship

In this case study, we explore how principal candidates made sense of their internship by analyzing their weekly reflections during a school year. We found that candidates’ views of leadership developed from viewing leadership solely through the lens of making decisions and providing direction, to recognizing that much of the work of a school leader came from building relationships and delegating leadership responsibilities. Candidates’ experiences managing student discipline, conducting classroom walkthroughs and teacher evaluations, and leading professional development and professional learning communities (PLCs) were especially developmental. We conclude with implications for preservice training programs and future research.

Identifying School Principal Candidates’ Perception on Teacher’s Appointment as School Principal

In order to establish a successful school, prospective school principals' perceptions are crucial. Perception has an effect on school quality because it impacts reaction and decision-making. The aim of this study was to understand prospective school principals' perceptions of the Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation Number 6 of 2018 concerning the Appointment of Teachers as School Principals, which was conducted using a quantitative approach through a survey of 77 prospective school principals from Central and East Java Provinces. The findings revealed that: the age of the prospective school principal does not have a significant effect on policy perceptions; the length of work as a prospective school principal teacher has no significant effect on policy perceptions; there is a significant difference between the principal candidates for primary school, junior high school and senior high school/vocational high school in perceiving policies; there is no significant difference between male and female principal candidates in their perception of the policy; there is no significant difference between prospective school principals based on tank (from III b to IV b) in perceiving policies; there is a significant difference between prospective school principals with bachelor's and master's degrees in perceiving policies; there is no significant difference between prospective school principals who have not and have read Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation No. 6 of 2018 in perceiving the policy; and that there is no significant difference between prospective school principals who have not and have specifically reviewed Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation No. 6 of 2018 in perceiving the policy.

Principal Candidates’ Sense of Efficacy: Can They Lead During a Pandemic?

Principal candidates’ sense of self-efficacy is critical for their professional development. Analysis of a self-efficacy survey provided the authors with valuable insights into areas needed for program development. The purpose of this research-based essay is to report on data analysis results learned about the self-efficacy of 10 school leadership students during a summer principalship course. These results provide information about implications as well as specific suggestions for leadership program improvement related to crisis situations.

Implementing School Improvement Plans: Perceptions and Implications of Aspiring Principals for Educational Leadership Programs

This study examines what aspiring principal candidates in one universitybase preparation program learned as a result of developing and implementing a school improvement plan. A case study approach was used to examine 53 aspiring principals’ reports of what they learned from implementing school improvement plans. Findings revealed three significant themes: (1) the importance of collaboratively engaging the participants of the school improvement plan; (2) the essential need of establishing relationships; and (3) understanding the significance and impact of data-driven decisions. Findings can inform leadership preparation programs to redirect coursework that will help aspiring principals improve leadership skills.

When Schools Change and Teachers Do Not: The Principal’s Use of Evaluation and Feedback to Impact Veteran Teacher Effectiveness

Effective principals provide teachers with feedback on the edges of their growth moving beyond compliance-driven teacher evaluations to meaningful cycles of observation and feedback. This case focuses on preparing principal candidates to address equity issues related to teacher practices that positively impact student achievement with a veteran high school teacher who is failing to respond to her school’s shifting demographics. Embedded in the case are additional challenges of leading a rural school. The principal, who is a new principal but previously taught with the teacher, now needs to provide research-based, culturally responsive, actionable feedback aligned to principles of adult learning theory and research-based instructional practices.

Rural and Small School Principal Candidates

This article reports the results of an inquiry into the dynamics of principal selection in rural school districts in two mid-American states with high numbers of rural schools. The study focuses on two questions: (1) are rural school districts experiencing a shortage of qualified applicants for vacant principal’s positions; and (2) what professional and personal characteristics do superintendents seek in selecting principals for rural schools? Data for the study were collected through a review of the relevant research literature and interviews with superintendents of rural school districts. The study confirmed that rural school districts in these two states are in fact not experiencing a shortage of qualified principal applicants and delineates specific professional and personal characteristics superintendents seek in the principals who lead rural schools.

Common Challenges Faced By Rural Principals: A Review of the Literature

Within this article, we thematically present common challenges associated with the role of the rural principal. In this literature review, we delimit our search to work published from 2003–2013. A limitation of this study is that it represents data predominantly from American, Canadian, and Australian rural settings, restricting a global applicability of results. Findings highlight that many rural principal candidates face a hiring disadvantage if they do not have a historical connection with the community advertising a position. Additional challenges include juggling diverse responsibilities, lack of professional development and resources, gender discrimination, and issues surrounding school accountability and change. This information is beneficial for researchers, policymaker, senior educational leaders, principals, vice-principals, teachers, parents, and community members interested in school leadership within rural communities. We conclude that to be successful, rural principals must be able to nimbly mediate relations within the local community and the larger school system.

Shifting Profile of Leadership Preparation Programs in the 21st Century

Purpose: A substantial research base focuses on principal preparation program standards, design, and effectiveness. Little is known, however, about which institutions are preparing principal candidates and how many candidates they have produced since 2003. Our study provides the field with a better understanding of the overall preparation landscape and addresses issues of principal supply and demand. Research Methods: We use several national datasets in this exploratory study to track changes in educational administration degree production at the national, state, and university level from 2000 to 2014 as well as how these compare with changing K-12 student populations and principal demand. Findings: Key findings include (a) the number of institutions granting degrees in educational administration increased by 72% this century, (b) the total number of leadership degrees granted doubled over this time period and is substantially larger at all award levels (i.e., postbaccalaureate, master’s, specialist, doctorate) in 2014 than 2000, and (c) the types of institutions offering educational leadership degrees and their production rates have changed dramatically over this time period. Implications: The supply of principal candidates far exceeds the number annual principal openings offering school systems greater choice among candidates. Further research is needed on the issues of readiness and career intentions of the candidates. The majority of growth in program offerings and degrees granted has been generated in less-resourced and less selective institutions. Researchers in the field have argued that adequate resources are critical to providing program components for effective principal preparation thus raising questions about the quality of program candidates.

Teacher’s Readiness in the New Principal Preparation Program (PPP)

This descriptive study reports on the learning readiness of teachers in the Indonesia Principal Preparation Programme (PPP). The Republic of Indonesia Ministry of Education and Culture has decreed that school principal candidates are to have school principal certificates before they can be appointed as school principals. The school principal certificate can only be attained by completing the PPP, one of the important stages of which is education and training. As a form of learning, education and training in the PPP demands school principal candidates to exhibit learning readiness. It has long and widely been acknowledged that learning readiness is one of the most important determining factors of success in learning. The PPP itself, in short, is a programme designed to equip teachers with previously determined competencies to enable them to take on the role of school leader and school manager. The PPP consists of several stages, which are: proposal of principal candidates, selection, and education and training. Each stage of the PPP comes with certain requirements. This study focuses on the stage of education and training. The preconditions of this stage determine the success of the process of learning and the achievement of the learning goals. Based on this notion, this paper aims to describe the training readiness of teachers nominated as school principals, with particular regard to their physical, psychological, and material readiness. Further attention is given to proposing possible alternatives to improve PPP training readiness. The method used in this study is the descriptive qualitative method. Data were collected through pre-test and post-test, questionnaires, and document study. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyse the data. The analysis results show that, while teachers’ material readiness for training is relatively high, they lack psychological and physical readiness. Better time management, competent trainers, a contextual curriculum, and a matriculation programme are proposed as alternatives to improve psychological and physical readiness.