Making Informed Decisions: A Multicase Study of Principals' Hiring Decisions in Six High Schools

• In Event: 54.023 - Leadership Development and Partnerships in the Field

Abstract

Research has clearly documented the significant, positive influence classroom teachers can have on student learning outcomes. As new teachers are typically selected by principals, deciding which teachers to hire is a critically important decision for principals to make. However, in most school districts in the United States, principals do not receive training or guidance on how to effectively select teachers. Furthermore, there is a paucity of research on the teacher hiring process in general and the factors that influence principals’ hiring decisions in particular. In this paper, we report the findings of a multi-case study of the influences on six high school principals’ hiring decisions. Our paper concludes with important implications for assisting school leaders in making effective hiring decisions.

Authors

• Amy Pritchard Roessler, Greenville County School District

• Hans W. Klar, Clemson University