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Roots and wings: Principal prepares assistants for career transitions

By Learning Forward
February 2019
Vol. 40 No. 1
School leadership turns over frequently. Superintendent succession is well-documented, particularly in urban areas, where average tenure is about 5.5 years (The Broad Center, 2018). In 2015-16, 16% of public school principals left their jobs, with most of them leaving the principalship altogether (Goldring, Taie, & O’Rear, 2018). These patterns are discussed often and with some concern. Less often discussed, however, are the career trajectories of assistant principals or vice principals. There is little research on how often they change schools or are promoted to full campus leadership. Such changes could be destabilizing — but they could also be positive. If assistant principals are intentionally and thoughtfully prepared for the principalship, they could help fill the gaps created by principal attrition, and perhaps even stem the

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Authors

Thomas M. Van Soelen, Shannon N. Kersey, Charles Chester, Michael LeMoyne, and Rebecca Williams Perkins

Thomas M. Van Soelen (thomas@vansoelenassociates.com) is president of Van Soelen & Associates in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Shannon N. Kersey (kersey@fultonschools.org) is principal of Alpharetta High School in Alpharetta, Georgia. Charles Chester (chesterc@fultonschools.org) is principal of Northwestern Middle School in Milton, Georgia. Michael LeMoyne (lemoynem@fultonschools.org) is principal of Hopewell Middle School in Alpharetta, Georgia. Rebecca Williams Perkins (perkinsr@fultonschools.org) is principal of Webb Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta, Georgia.

References

Goldring, R., Taie, S., & O’Rear, I. (2018). Principal attrition and mobility: Results from the 2016-17 Principal Follow-up Survey. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education.

The Broad Center. (2018, May). Hire expectations: Big-district superintendents stay in their job longer than we think. Los Angeles, CA: Author.

Van Soelen, T.M. (2013, April). Building a sustainable culture of feedback. Performance Improvement Journal, 52(4), 22-29.

Van Soelen, T.M., Kersey, S.N., & Perkins, R. (2016, November). Teacher evaluation and support are not mutually exclusive. Principal Leadership, 17(3), 44-47.


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Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.


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