An Analysis of the United States Educational Administrator Shortage

Abstract

here are multiple independent and interactive factors that may contribute to perceptions o r misperceptions concerning an administrator shortage in the T United States (US). These factors include the complexities of supply and demand data, inferential errors and over-generalisations, candidate quantity issues confounded by anecdotal accounts of candidate quality, administrator accounts of limited job desirability, and the 'invisibility' of women administrators as a viable candidate pool. Some researchers have begun to challenge the perception that there is an administrator or educator shortage crisis, but these voices are often readily dismissed. There are multiple reasons why portrayals of an educator shortage crisis may be widely accepted in spite of questionable evidence. Specifically there may be political and ideological reasons that misperceptions about an educator shortage may be perpetuated. This article explores reasons that may explain perceptions o r misperceptions of the shortage, including political forces that may encourage or perpetuate beliefs about the problem.

Developing Instructional Leaders Through Assistant Principals’ Academy

“…On the other hand, Pounder, Galbin, and Shepherd (2003) have questioned the evidence provided that points to a perceived shortage of candidates for open principal positions. These authors believe that the evidence claiming such a shortage is anecdotal, inconsistent, and inconclusive.…”

“…These authors believe that the evidence claiming such a shortage is anecdotal, inconsistent, and inconclusive. Pounder et al (2003) suggested that, while there may indeed be certain shortages for specific openings (e.g., high school principalships and superintendencies), and in certain locations (e.g., rural communities and large urban areas), such shortages in these types of positions and locations are specific to these areas and should not be generalized across the entire field.…”

“…At least one voice, however, has begun to question the perceived shortage of quality principal candidates, claiming the evidence is insufficient and suggesting that specific leadership shortages in specific positions and locations have been generalized to the entire field (Pounder et al, 2003).…”

Work-shadowing as a process for facilitating leadership succession in primary schools

“…They argue that new forms of governance, role expansion and work intensification have had the effect of reconstructing leadership as a form of 'greedy work' which individuals are increasingly less willing to undertake. Others have suggested that the 'leadership crisis' may be politically and ideologically constructed (Pounder et al 2003).…”

Developing Effective School Leaders: Perceptions of Participants in a District-led Principal Training Program

“…Over the past decade, there has been much debate about the existence of a shortage of qualified school principals as a result of the large number of principals retiring, changing positions, or leaving the profession (Gates, Ringel, Santibanez, Ross & Chung, 2003;Pounder, Galvin & Sheppard, 2003). Shelton (2012) cited information from The National Commission on Teaching and America's Future that stated more than half of the country's principals were baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 and projected that schools could lose one-third of their most accomplished and experienced leaders to retirement by 2019.…”