Positioning and Interrogating Leadership Practice: Investigating Transitional Experiences of First-Year Assistant Principals

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Ten
  In Roundtable Session: Leadership Across Multiple Roles Within Schools and Districts (Table 2)

Abstract

Critical to a school leadership team, the Assistant Principal role encompasses job responsibilities that are frequently undefined, expansive, and ever-changing. Limited literature on assistant principals reveals a gap in the field regarding job motivation, career satisfaction, and skill sets assistant principals need to help navigate, adjust, and develop as educational leaders. The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine the motivations and transitional experiences of select novice assistant principals after leaving the teacher role and assuming an initial assistant principal position. Findings suggested positioning assistant principals as an important segment of the educational leadership pipeline gives preparation programs and school systems the tools to properly equip assistant principals to navigate, adjust, and develop in the role.

Authors

• Langley Pierre McClay, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
  Presenting Author

• Margaret-Mary Sulentic Dowell, Louisiana State University
  Presenting Author