A Case Study On The Self-Perceptions Of Novice Assistant Principals’ And Principals’ Leadership Abilities Based Upon The North Carolina Standards For School Executives

This study was an investigation of novice principals’ and assistant principals’ self-perceptions of their abilities to execute the eight North Carolina Standards for School Executives. Results indicated the novice administrators felt, overall, that they were only somewhat effective in implementing the eight standards, and felt they could be supported by having scheduled collegial support and an assigned mentor. They felt most prepared in the area of Cultural Leadership, while Micro-Political Leadership and Academic Leadership were areas of expressed concern. In rating their perceptions of their principal preparation programs, they felt the programs were mostly somewhat effective. They indicated a need for a more structured internship that allowed for a greater range of experiences at different levels of education. Results indicated a need for increased professional development in the areas of school law, time management, and the teacher evaluation process. The study results can be utilized to implement a district-sponsored leadership academy for novice school administrators. An even stronger partnership with local school districts and principal preparation programs within institutes of higher learning is recommended.