New School Principals' Talk of Calling: Destiny, Duty, and Fulfillment in Work

• In Event: Understanding Stressors and Motivators of School Principals

Abstract

Little empirical research investigates how school principals make sense of their commitment to a challenging, high-turnover field. This paper examines new school principals’ narratives about work, using interview data from 35 new principals in an urban school system. School principals in this sample used themes of calling to make sense of their work roles, identity, and commitment, specifically a sense of destiny to work in education; duty to serve students; and fulfillment in work. Such narratives both explain past action and motivate continued commitment. This work adds a narrative component to literature examining educators’ efforts to manage multiplying work demands. This study also provides empirical data on principals’ narrative work identity, specifically how they make sense of their commitment.

Author

• Carolyn Swen, Northwestern University