The Principal-Teacher Churn: Understanding the Relationship Between Leadership Turnover and Teacher Attrition

• In Event: Examining the Dynamics of Principal Turnover and Burnout

Abstract

Among U.S. public school principals in 2015-16, 82% remained at the same school in the following year, 6% moved to a different school, and 10% left the principalship (Goldring & Taie, 2018). Principal turnover threatens school stability and working conditions that support effective teaching. We aim to better understand the relationship between principal and teacher turnover. Two research questions guided our study: (1) How does the probability a teacher leaves their school change when a new principal is hired? (2) To what extent are teacher, principal, and school characteristics related to the relationship between leadership turnover and teacher attrition? These questions are important because they provide insights for policymakers and district leaders.

Authors

• David Edward DeMatthews, The University of Texas at Austin

• David S. Knight, University of Washington