School Leadership Burnout and Job-Related Stress: Recommendations for District Administrators and Principals

Abstract

Principals are critical to improving schools, but job-related stress and burnout are factors that can limit principal effectiveness and lead to untimely turnover. Extant literature, leadership preparation programs, and district policies have largely ignored principal burnout despite the increased complexity of the principalship and increasing rates of turnover. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated principal burnout given the added demands and transitions associated with school closures, reopening, and social distancing protocols. The purpose of this article is to provide a set of recommendations for district administrators and school leaders in order to reduce burnout. We hope these recommendations provide an initial starting point for taking action to reduce principal burnout.