Despite a rise in school principal vacancies in recent years, principals of Color are still underrepresented in many K-12 school districts across the United States. Continued racial bias remains a barrier and deterrent for aspiring principals of Color, particularly in homogenous, predominantly White school districts and communities that allow…

The purpose of our study was to illuminate patterns in district early principal hiring practices (EPHPs) that suppress, reproduce, or build equity and diversity in the principalship. Using Quantitative Criticalism as a framework, we found that district EPHPs do not disrupt longstanding patterns of inequity and exclusion. Instead, the practices…

This study investigates whether a principal's likelihood of hiring a teacher of color is sensitive to the racial composition of students in the school. We used an administrative dataset from Texas including 59,157 principal observations and 662,997 teacher observations spanning 2000-2017 to consider whether or not the disappearing diversity in a…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe and further our understanding of how a large urban/suburban university-district partnership fostered admission processes that led to a more diversified school leadership pipeline. Across findings was the strong joint decision-making and collaboration thus creating a robust system of…

This paper aims to draw lessons from existing research on school leader diversity, and to supplement that evidence with new insights from the lived experiences of teachers, aspiring and practicing school leaders of color, and local and state administrators who oversee school leader recruitment and support. These perspectives are elevated to bring…

This study was designed to explore the unique perspectives of African-American male principals serving in rural high-poverty, high-minority elementary schools regarding the residual effects of the North Carolina School Performance Grade Accountability Model and the perceived role that race plays in their recruitment, placement, and retention at…

Leadership transitions provide opportunities for organizational growth and development. In the field of education, choosing an effective school principal is one of the most significant decisions that a superintendent or school board can make, as new leadership can propel a district forward in meeting its goals. Principals are responsible for…

Research indicates that the leadership of a school principal is a determining factor in school effectiveness, second only to the role of a student's classroom teacher. Yet, the species of "principal" is dwindling. National reports indicate that a great number of schools and districts are experiencing a shortage of a qualified pool of…

The School District of Philadelphia (SDP), like many other urban school districts, struggles to increase its hiring and retention of experienced and highly qualified teachers in its low-performing/high-need schools. Excluding its charter schools, SDP serves approximately 165,000 students, largely from high-poverty (76%) and minority (85%)…

The shortage of principals in California is examined in this article. While the data show that there is not a shortage of individuals having the necessary credential to hold the position, often there are not enough applicants for principal positions. Reconceptualizing and restructuring of principal positions are emphasized as potentially correct…

The Principals Institute is one of several programs designed to increase the number of minorities and women in supervisory and administrative positions in the New York City school system. During three academic semesters and a summer, students in the Institute attend classes and participate in an internship. On completion, students receive a…

The Assistant Principal's Internship Program (APIP) is one of several programs designed to increase the number of minorities and women in administrative and supervisory positions in the New York City school system. APIP graduates complete 21 credits of tuition-reimbursed coursework at the City College of New York and a semester-long full-time…

Trends in the number of minorities and women certified and/or employed as secondary and assistant secondary principals in South Carolina are examined in this report. Analysis of state computer files of population data from 1978 to 1988 indicates that the number of females certified and employed as secondary and assistant principals has increased…

Describes the challenge and dilemmas facing administrators and school boards in recruiting exemplary teachers for low-performing schools. Provides examples from several urban school districts. Lists some of the political, managerial, and instructional dilemmas that superintendents' face trying to redistribute exemplary teachers and administrators…