Hiring School Leaders: Exploring the School Principal Selection Process in an Urban District

• In Event: Conceptual and Empirical Examination of Educational Leadership Development

Abstract

Although the importance of staffing schools with effective principals is well-documented, we know little about the processes by which districts select principals. This study examines the multistage principal hiring process in a midsized urban district. Using a unique data set that matches five years of applicant data with their scores and progression at each stage, we document how candidates with different characteristics fare as they move through principal selection. We find that different characteristics correlate differently with success at different stages. The district hires more female principals, for example, not because they are advantaged at later stages but because their initial resume screening scores are higher, making it more likely they receive a school interview.

Authors

• Michelle Doughty, Vanderbilt University

• Jason A. Grissom, Vanderbilt University