Date of Award
10-2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Secondary Education and Educational Leadership
First Advisor
Dr. Barbara Qualls
Second Advisor
Dr. Richard Skuza
Third Advisor
Dr. Susan Reily
Fourth Advisor
Dr. McCleary
Abstract
This study is designed to investigate the possible relationships between principal turnover within K-12 public schools in the State of Texas, and demographic characteristics of school location, principal’s ethnicity, principal’s gender, and principal’s level of post-secondary degree. Data for participating schools was gathered from state-reported educator information specifically for the 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023, and 2023/2024 school years. The longitudinal study reviewed K-12 non-charter public schools in Education Service Center (ESC) 11, which encompasses all public schools in the Fort Worth metroplex of North Texas, allowing this study to analyze a robust and inclusive dataset. The Chi-Square Test of Independence was used to analyze ESC 11 principal data to assess for possible relationships between principal turnover and the demographic variables of school location, principal’s ethnicity, principal’s gender, and principal’s level of post-secondary degree. The result of this study highlights demographic patterns associated with principal turnover, allowing insight to successfully recruit for the principalship, as well as how to provide support and ultimately retain principals. The findings will be beneficial to principals, school districts, and the human resources departments that serve them.
Repository Citation
True, Jessica D., "Hire and Hope: An exploration of principal turnover" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 618.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/618
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Included in
Educational Leadership Commons, Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration Commons, Other Educational Administration and Supervision Commons
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