Lessons Learned from Shadowing Principals

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Lessons Learned from Shadowing Principals
Language: English
Authors: Barbara Stacy Rieckhoff, Donna Foiles Kiel, Leodis Scott
Source: Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. 2025 9(2).
Availability: Southern Connecticut State University. 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515. e-mail: 203-392-7278; Web site: https:/go.southernct.edu/jelps/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Education
Descriptors: Principals, Administrator Role, Beginning Principals, Administrator Responsibility, Leadership Styles, Administrator Attitudes, Elementary Schools, Catholic Schools, Urban Schools, School Districts, Time Management, Administrator Behavior, Leadership Role, School Administration
ISSN: 2473-2826
Abstract: The roles and responsibilities of school leaders continue to expand, with increasing demands placed on principals. At the same time, the primary role of the principal as instructional leader has been well-documented, presenting principals with the ongoing tension between expanding external demands and the need to focus on teaching and learning for student success. This paper reports on a shadow study which captured how novice principals allocated their time and how they shared duties and responsibilities with others. The principal's job description was analyzed through various lenses. Qualitative data from interviews with the shadowed principals and their district administrators provided perceptions of the inherent challenges of the principalship and suggested supports to engage others in sharing leadership. Quantitative data captures the amount of time and type of activity principals spent over a three-day period. Novice principals expressed reluctance to share leadership and may benefit from mentoring and training to shift some of their duties with their colleagues. Professional learning in models of distributed leadership would enhance principal understanding of engaging others in a positive, non-threatening way. Finally, district level administrators need to provide adequate support to prevent burnout and frustration at the early stages of leadership.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1492334
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1492334
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1492334
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Lessons Learned from Shadowing Principals
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Barbara+Stacy+Rieckhoff%22">Barbara Stacy Rieckhoff</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Donna+Foiles+Kiel%22">Donna Foiles Kiel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Leodis+Scott%22">Leodis Scott</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Educational+Leadership+and+Policy+Studies%22"><i>Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies</i></searchLink>. 2025 9(2).
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Southern Connecticut State University. 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515. e-mail: 203-392-7278; Web site: https:/go.southernct.edu/jelps/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 22
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Principals%22">Principals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrator+Role%22">Administrator Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Beginning+Principals%22">Beginning Principals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrator+Responsibility%22">Administrator Responsibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Leadership+Styles%22">Leadership Styles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrator+Attitudes%22">Administrator Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Schools%22">Elementary Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Catholic+Schools%22">Catholic Schools</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="%22Time+Management%22">Time Management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrator+Behavior%22">Administrator Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Leadership+Role%22">Leadership Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Administration%22">School Administration</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2473-2826
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The roles and responsibilities of school leaders continue to expand, with increasing demands placed on principals. At the same time, the primary role of the principal as instructional leader has been well-documented, presenting principals with the ongoing tension between expanding external demands and the need to focus on teaching and learning for student success. This paper reports on a shadow study which captured how novice principals allocated their time and how they shared duties and responsibilities with others. The principal's job description was analyzed through various lenses. Qualitative data from interviews with the shadowed principals and their district administrators provided perceptions of the inherent challenges of the principalship and suggested supports to engage others in sharing leadership. Quantitative data captures the amount of time and type of activity principals spent over a three-day period. Novice principals expressed reluctance to share leadership and may benefit from mentoring and training to shift some of their duties with their colleagues. Professional learning in models of distributed leadership would enhance principal understanding of engaging others in a positive, non-threatening way. Finally, district level administrators need to provide adequate support to prevent burnout and frustration at the early stages of leadership.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1492334
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1492334
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Principals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Administrator Role
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Beginning Principals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Administrator Responsibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Leadership Styles
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Administrator Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Catholic Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Urban Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Districts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Time Management
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Administrator Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Leadership Role
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Administration
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Lessons Learned from Shadowing Principals
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Barbara Stacy Rieckhoff
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Donna Foiles Kiel
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Leodis Scott
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 2473-2826
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 9
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
              Type: main
ResultId 1