What Are Principals’ Perceptions? Recommendations for Improving the Supervision and Evaluation of Principals

Abstract

The goals for this qualitative study were to examine principals’ perceptions regarding their own supervision and evaluation. Two research questions guided the qualitative inquiry: (1) What are the greatest strengths of your own supervision and evaluation? and (2) What recommendations would you give to superintendents to improve your own supervision and evaluation? The study used an online tool to gather perceptions from principals regarding their own evaluation and supervision. Participants solicited included 275 principals from elementary, middle, or high schools, in a mountain west state. Out of the participants solicited, 95 principals agreed to participate (35% response rate). The emerging themes for the first research question were (1) trust and communication and (2) goal setting. The emerging themes for the second research question were (1) regular observations with feedback and (2) components to improve supervision and evaluation. Results from this study provided implications for those who supervise principals, as well as for those who train superintendents.