Recruitment and selection of principals: A systematic review

Abstract

School principals play an invaluable role in schools’, teachers’, and students’ success; therefore, it is of particular importance that we learn, through empirical research, about the factors related to recruiting and selecting school principals. This study critically reviewed 64 empirical literature studies that were published in the United States over the past 2 decades on the topic of principal recruitment and selection. The present study examined the characteristics of the individuals who apply and are selected to join the principal workforce, as well as the characteristics of the schools and/or districts that attract potential candidates. The topics identified in the review are gender, race, qualifications, and intrinsic motivation at the individual level, as well as school locale, student characteristics, financial incentives, working conditions, superintendents, and hiring practices at the organizational level. Though hiring is a two-way interactive process, the literature to date has paid little attention to the process and practices that lead to recruiting and hiring effective school leaders. This paper concludes with a discussion about the trends that are recognizable in the existing work on principal recruitment and selection, and the practice and policy implications of the study’s review.

Pathways to the school principalship: An international scoping review

“…Notwithstanding disagreements on what the principalship entails, because school principals matter for schools’ processes and outcomes, understanding the push and pull factors for entry and professional socialisation practices become relevant research issues to inform policy, recruitment, preparation, and supports for practice (Crow, 1992; Stevenson, 2006). The current review updates and extends previous studies that have examined pathways concerning personal characteristics, pre-service preparation, and policy infrastructure in specific countries (DeAngelis and O'Connor, 2012; Lee and Mao, 2020; Martínez et al, 2021; Murphy, 2020) as well as earlier studies in international contexts (Huber and Hiltmann, 2010; Lumby et al, 2008; Oplatka, 2004; Pont et al, 2008).…”

“…Second, perceived principal shortages have sparked interest in understanding why people enter and leave the post as well as why, in some schools, principal recruitment is a problem (Lee and Mao, 2020; Piggot-Irvine and Youngs, 2011; Rhodes et al, 2008; Snodgrass-Rangel, 2018; Stevenson, 2006). Frequent turnover creates leadership instability, which, in turn, negatively impacts school improvement (Gates et al, 2004).…”

Homeward Bound? Rural Principal Hiring, Transfer, and Turnover Patterns in Texas

“…However, researchers have also drawn attention to serious inequities stemming from the principal market (Branch et al, 2013; Loeb et al, 2010; Myung et al, 2011). Schools with historically marginalized and under-resourced student populations are more likely to experience difficulties in recruiting (Grissom et al, 2019; Lee & Mao, 2020) and retaining quality leaders (Gates et al, 2006; Goldring & Taie, 2018; Rangel, 2018). Recruitment of quality leaders is especially important for low-income and historically disadvantaged schools where leadership demonstrates greater effects (Grissom, 2011; Leithwood, 2010).…”

“…Although researchers have examined principal markets broadly (see: Lee & Mao, 2020; Rangel, 2018), recently the specific recruitment and retention needs of rural schools have come under the spotlight (Hansen, 2018; University Council for Educational Administration, 2018). Rural students make up nearly one-fifth of all students in the United States, with nearly 17% of those students living below the poverty line (Showalter et al, 2019).…”

A critical examination of the recruitment processes of the South African principals from Rawls perspective: A conceptual argument

“…Haughton and Balli (2014), contend that principals are critical to the success of the schools they lead. In strengthening this view, Maxwell (2007), Lee and Mao (2020), and Castro (2020) further noted that there is a link between good leadership and organisation productivity. In this current era, finding committed school leadership is a challenge.…”