Unpacking the Career Decisions of School Administrators

• In Event: It’s the Principal of the Matter

Abstract

As our understanding of the significance of administrative leadership grows, there is a need for research that enables us to understand the transitions school leaders make within and out of school administration. The purpose of this paper is to present qualitative evidence from a study of administrators in Delaware about the way career decisions are made and the forces that influence those decisions. Our study finds that while some decisions are self-initiated, most decisions are influenced in part or entirely by other actors in the system. In those decisions to move or stay that are self-initiated, we find a number of “pushes” and “pulls” that can inform efforts to recruit and retain school leaders.

Authors

• Elizabeth N. Farley-Ripple, University of Delaware

• Jeffrey A. Raffel, University of Delaware

• Jennie Welch, University of Delaware