Imagine a new leader taking charge and getting to work. Anyone who has experienced a leadership change knows how difficult it is to navigate uncertainty. Things like this happen far too often in public schools.
One in five Texas public schools has new leaders this school year. More than 20% of Texas principals will retire in the 2022-23 school year, an increase of 5 percentage points over the past decade, according to data from the Texas Education Agency.
The impact on sales is profound. When principals leave, schools lose stability, teacher morale declines, teachers quit, and student achievement declines. This ripple effect extends beyond student learning. Replacing a principal could cost her more than $75,000, according to a University of Houston study. This further increases the financial burden on districts already facing limited financial resources.
So why do principals resign? He has worked with over 300 educational leaders over the past eight years and I can tell you they are not leaving their jobs due to lack of commitment. I have always been inspired by the passion and dedication of principals who prioritize student success, well-being, and educational equity. Unfortunately, our current systems fail to support them adequately, constantly asking them to do more with less.
Principals face pressure from all levels, including the state, school district, parents, and community members. They are responsible for addressing important issues such as school safety, budgets, learning loss recovery, and the mental health of students and teachers.
We must also respond to the ever-changing educational policy situation. This stress can take a toll. Shockingly, a Rand Corporation study found that 85% of school leaders report experiencing significant work-related stress, a statistic nearly 2.5 times higher than the average working adult. That's what it means.
As a parent of school-age children, I want to see more principals who dedicate their careers to nurturing children and fostering school environments that foster student learning and development. As they lead community schools in an ever-evolving educational landscape, they need our support.
What should I do? It starts with developing the essential leadership skills that principals need to be effective in this demanding role. Every year, I meet many principals who are desperate for professional development, but our system provides limited opportunities for leadership and personal growth. When I worked in the private sector, I had access to incredibly high quality and comprehensive professional development. Principals deserve and need similar opportunities.
To effectively address this issue, we need to help school districts prioritize investments in comprehensive professional development programs for principals. These programs not only focus on developing leadership skills, providing valuable coaching, and fostering a supportive learning environment, but most importantly, prioritize core mental health and well-being. It's about providing dedicated training and resources to help you improve.
By providing comprehensive support that promotes professional skills and personal well-being, districts can effectively prevent lead burnout and turnover. These initiatives enable principals to do what they do best and focus on more strategic issues. If principals have the ability to manage the complexity of their role and stay in the job longer, they can further motivate teachers to stay. This directly leads to positive outcomes for students and creates a stable learning environment.
This recommendation requires a system-level shift at the district level, but each of us can support our principals. First, ask your local principal how things are going. Thank you to them. Remind them that you see and appreciate their efforts. Next, talk to school board members and ask them what investments they are making in principal professional development.
High principal turnover should be a wake-up call to communities about how to support their school districts. The negative effects of principal burnout and attrition negatively impact the future of students, teachers, and the economy. Our children deserve strong leadership. Establish a strong foundation for stable leadership in your school by prioritizing and investing in professional development programs that develop individuals holistically. Leadership is critical to improving educational outcomes and student success.
Alejandra Barbosa is Special Advisor to the President at the University of North Texas at Dallas and founder of the UNT Dallas Principal Impact Collaboration.
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