Assistant Principals and the Leadership Pathway: Diversity, Equity, and Effectiveness

• In Event: Developing and Sustaining Resilient Equity-Focused Leaders

Abstract

Research indicates that serving as an assistant principal is a typical steppingstone to the principalship. However, there is little consensus or evidence about the pathway from AP to principal and how the role could advance equity in the principal pipeline and for students. The paper addresses four research questions: 1) How common is experience as an AP? 2) How and why does access to leadership pathways differ by educators’ race, ethnicity, and gender? 3) What roles of APs are most important for improving student outcomes and advancing equity? 4) What leadership experiences can help prepare APs for the principalship? The paper reports findings from analyses of national and state administrative data and a systematic review of 79 empirical research studies.

Authors

• Ellen B. Goldring, Vanderbilt University

• Mollie Rubin, Vanderbilt University

• Mariesa Herrmann, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc