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Applying to Lead: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Prospective Principals' Job Application Strategies in Two Urban Districts

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Title: Applying to Lead: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Prospective Principals' Job Application Strategies in Two Urban Districts
Language: English
Authors: Molly F. Gordon (ORCID 0000-0002-6589-2594), Jason A. Grissom (ORCID 0000-0001-9819-8550), Alyssa Blanchard, Ashley B. Ellison, Mollie Rubin, Francisco Arturo Santelli
Source: Educational Administration Quarterly. 2025 61(3):466-498.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 33
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305A190520
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Education
Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
High Schools
Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Job Applicants, Job Application, Urban Schools, School Districts, Job Search Methods, Motivation, Preferences, Principals, Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools
Geographic Terms: Illinois (Chicago), Tennessee (Nashville)
DOI: 10.1177/0013161X241284789
ISSN: 0013-161X
1552-3519
Abstract: Purpose: Urban school districts often face challenges in filling principal vacancies with effective leaders, especially in high-needs schools. Prospective principals' engagement with the job application process may contribute to these challenges. The goal of this study is to better understand the job search strategies and behaviors of prospective principals and how their approaches might contribute to leadership staffing challenges in high-needs schools. Research Design and Methods: We employ a convergent mixed-methods design that draws on data from two urban school systems. We pair analysis of interviews of 36 principals who have recently navigated the districts' hiring systems with multiple years of applications and other administrative data provided by the two districts. We explored how patterns and themes that emerged from each data source were confirmed or disconfirmed with the other source. Findings: Guided by a job-search model, our analysis uncovers three main findings. First, the typical principal applicant conducted a targeted rather than a wide search, reflecting multiple strategies, preferences, and relational factors. Second, elementary educators showed a strong propensity to apply to the same grade level. Third, leaders applied to schools serving larger proportions of historically marginalized students at similar rates as other schools, reflecting their motivations to work with underserved students. Implications for Research and Practice: Considerations informing prospective principals' job searches are multifaceted. High-needs schools are desirable to many principal candidates. Identifying and strategically recruiting candidates with preferences for working in such schools can be a strategy for districts seeking to overcome challenges in filling principal vacancies.
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1475350
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Applying to Lead: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Prospective Principals' Job Application Strategies in Two Urban Districts
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Molly+F%2E+Gordon%22">Molly F. Gordon</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6589-2594">0000-0002-6589-2594</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jason+A%2E+Grissom%22">Jason A. Grissom</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9819-8550">0000-0001-9819-8550</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alyssa+Blanchard%22">Alyssa Blanchard</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ashley+B%2E+Ellison%22">Ashley B. Ellison</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mollie+Rubin%22">Mollie Rubin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Francisco+Arturo+Santelli%22">Francisco Arturo Santelli</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Educational+Administration+Quarterly%22"><i>Educational Administration Quarterly</i></searchLink>. 2025 61(3):466-498.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+Applicants%22">Job Applicants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+Application%22">Job Application</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Urban+Schools%22">Urban Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Districts%22">School Districts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+Search+Methods%22">Job Search Methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motivation%22">Motivation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preferences%22">Preferences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Principals%22">Principals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Schools%22">Elementary Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Illinois+%28Chicago%29%22">Illinois (Chicago)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tennessee+%28Nashville%29%22">Tennessee (Nashville)</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/0013161X241284789
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Purpose: Urban school districts often face challenges in filling principal vacancies with effective leaders, especially in high-needs schools. Prospective principals' engagement with the job application process may contribute to these challenges. The goal of this study is to better understand the job search strategies and behaviors of prospective principals and how their approaches might contribute to leadership staffing challenges in high-needs schools. Research Design and Methods: We employ a convergent mixed-methods design that draws on data from two urban school systems. We pair analysis of interviews of 36 principals who have recently navigated the districts' hiring systems with multiple years of applications and other administrative data provided by the two districts. We explored how patterns and themes that emerged from each data source were confirmed or disconfirmed with the other source. Findings: Guided by a job-search model, our analysis uncovers three main findings. First, the typical principal applicant conducted a targeted rather than a wide search, reflecting multiple strategies, preferences, and relational factors. Second, elementary educators showed a strong propensity to apply to the same grade level. Third, leaders applied to schools serving larger proportions of historically marginalized students at similar rates as other schools, reflecting their motivations to work with underserved students. Implications for Research and Practice: Considerations informing prospective principals' job searches are multifaceted. High-needs schools are desirable to many principal candidates. Identifying and strategically recruiting candidates with preferences for working in such schools can be a strategy for districts seeking to overcome challenges in filling principal vacancies.
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/0013161X241284789
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 33
        StartPage: 466
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Job Applicants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Job Application
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Urban Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Districts
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      – SubjectFull: Job Search Methods
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      – SubjectFull: Motivation
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      – SubjectFull: Preferences
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      – SubjectFull: Principals
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      – SubjectFull: Elementary Schools
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      – SubjectFull: Middle Schools
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      – SubjectFull: Illinois (Chicago)
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      – SubjectFull: Tennessee (Nashville)
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      – TitleFull: Applying to Lead: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Prospective Principals' Job Application Strategies in Two Urban Districts
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