Career mobility of elementary school principals and conflict with the central office

Recent attention on the principal as instructional leader of the school has overshadowed the dual nature of the principal's role as a subordinate of the central office as well as superordinate of the school. An understanding of how principals respond to this dual role is useful in developing appropriate school improvement strategies. This study examines the diversity of principals' responses to one aspect of this dual role, the potential conflict between principal and central office. The investigation, involving a sample of 89 suburban elementary school principals, uses both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The study found that principals vary in their responses to this potential conflict depending on their career histories. Principals who have moved among several districts are more likely to have conflict with CO, while principals who have remained in the current district throughout their careers are less likely to have this conflict. Several features of career mobility are examined as possible explanations for the findings.