Perceptions of the Assistant Principal's Role in School Leadership
Open Access
- Author:
- Mattocks, Sandra
- Graduate Program:
- Educational Leadership
- Degree:
- Doctor of Education
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- February 23, 2016
- Committee Members:
- Nona Ann Prestine, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Nona Ann Prestine, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
James F Nolan Jr., Committee Member
Jacqueline A Stefkovich, Committee Member
William Hartman, Committee Member - Keywords:
- assistant principal
school leadership
shared leadership
role of assistant principal
leadership - Abstract:
- This research study examines the perceptions of the assistant principal’s role in school leadership in an effort to understand the opportunities and constraints inherent in current configurations of the assistant principal position and whether and how those opportunities and constraints might affect an instructional leadership role. The study is organized around the following key research questions: (1) What does the current role of assistant principals look like? (2) How are the role requirements and responsibilities determined and what is the intent? (3) In what ways, or to what extent, can these assigned tasks and responsibilities be seen as preparation for the principalship? (4) What trainings and experiences do assistant principals perceive to be missing from their current role that could assist them in assuming a principal position? This study concluded that although the role of the assistant principal still remains mired in managerial and clerical duties, such as attendance and discipline, the role of today’s assistant principal appears to have expanded to one that includes staff supervision, instructional leadership, and curriculum development. Results from this study suggest that while the principal is still a strong influence over the role requirements and responsibilities of assistant principals, this influence is more positive rather than negative. While the respondents identified finance, school law and special education as key areas that are still largely missing from their work assignments, the data from this study showed that principals are currently providing instructional leadership opportunities that allow for their assistant principals to grow their leadership skills and be seen as leaders.