Reimagining Principal Support: Toward Just and Equitable School Leadership

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Prioritizing Equity to Engage Educators, Students, Parents, Families, and Communities (Table 12)

Abstract

Principals are pivotal leaders in their schools, and their mental health and well-being are crucial for driving the research, remedy, and repair needed for just education renewal. This study explored factors contributing to burnout among principals in a diverse urban district in the Southwestern U.S., focusing on working conditions and recommending coping strategies. Principal turnover destabilizes school communities and impedes equitable student achievement. Through 20 in-depth interviews, the study examined how secondary trauma and demanding working conditions contribute to burnout, while highlighting principals' coping mechanisms. It underscores the importance of supportive conditions and effective strategies in mitigating burnout and fostering resilience. This research offers insights into sustaining principal well-being and effectiveness, ultimately promoting leadership for justice and equity in urban schools.

Authors

• Sofia Malik, University of Texas at Austin

• Pedro Reyes, University of Texas at Austin

• David E. DeMatthews, University of Texas at Austin