Factors Influencing School Principals' Motivation to Become Principals in the United States and Germany

• In Event: Leading in Diverse Cultures

Abstract

In Germany and the U.S.A, the importance of effective school leadership toward creating successful schools is undisputed. Yet in both countries, attracting and retaining highly qualified school principals is a continuing challenge. The current study examined the impact of nine work-related factors that influenced the motivation of 145 German principals and 134 U.S.A. principals to become school leaders. Through survey data and follow-up interviews, researchers identified similarities and differences in the factors that shaped the motivation of principals in the two countries. These findings offer opportunities for Germany and the U.S.A. to learn from each other regarding ways to entice people to become school leaders.

Authors

• Dawson R. Hancock, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Ulrich Müller, Pädagogische Hochschule Ludwigsburg, University of Education

• Chuang Wang, University of Macau

• Jeremy Hachen