The Content and Configuration of Principal Time Use During the Summer and Fall

• In Event: Understanding the Principal Workday: Methods and Focus

Abstract

Researchers have studied principal time use for a century and consistently found that principals’ time is dominated by organizational tasks and characterized by fragmented and unrelenting ‘firefighting’ conducted at a hectic pace. However, there have been no studies which exclusively measure principal time use during the summer months, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of their contracted work time. This study measured and analyzed the content and configuration of principal time use during summer and fall using an End-of-Day daily log. The findings indicate that principals spend a greater percentage of time on organizational tasks during the summer, a similar amount of time on instructional tasks across both periods, and found that the frenzied workday characterization may be inaccurate.

Authors

• Sara Catherine Vanderbeck, Centennial School of Lehigh University

• Craig Dennis Hochbein, Lehigh University