Exploring Gender and Experience Differences in School Principals’ Needs for Mentoring and Coaching

• In Event: Roundtable Session 73
  In Roundtable Session: Mentoring School Principals

Abstract

The purposes of this quantitative study were to explore, with respect to gender and leadership experience, the content areas in which principals thought mentoring and coaching were important. Beginning principals perceived higher needs for mentoring and coaching in all areas. All experience levels of principals indicated high needs for support in instructional leadership and using data to inform decisions. Many of the top-ranked areas were relational areas -- resolving staff and parental issues, and creating a collegial faculty. Although support in these relational areas was important for both genders, female principals perceived an increased need, particularly in resolving student issues. Female beginning principals and female experienced principals expressed greater needs than their male counterparts for support in sustaining personal motivation.

Authors

• Heather E. Duncan, University of Wyoming

• Bret Range, University of Wyoming

• Maryalice Bruce, University of Wyoming

• Suzanne Young, University of Wyoming