What Do Principals Look for When Hiring New Teachers?

• In Event: Leaders Supporting Teacher Retention and Development

Abstract

This paper discusses the teacher characteristics that get to be considered during the hiring process and what can we learn from that about the different perceptions that principals in urban public, urban Catholic and Jewish schools hold. Data for the study come from semi-structured interviews with 19 school principals. The analysis focused on the professional and personal characteristics that principals deemed critical for beginning teachers at their schools. This paper seeks to show that principals’ perceptions of teacher hiring require further discussion and analysis. The comparison approach underscores the fact that even in affluent schools the hiring of beginning teachers is not well understood.

Author

• Eran Tamir, Tel Aviv University