An Experimental Approach to Evaluating the Viability of Potential Applicants for Assistant Principal Vacancies

Despite the purported national shortage of qualified applicants for administrator vacancies, there is little empirical research regarding assistant principal recruitment. This study involved an experiment to evaluate the viability of teachers as applicants for assistant principal vacancies. ANOVA results indicated administrator certification program status (admitted, not admitted) and school level (elementary, middle school, high school) explained 28% of the variance in job ratings. Teachers who were enrolled in administrator certification programs rated the job higher than did teachers who were not enrolled in administrator preparation programs. Middle school teachers rated the job higher than did high school teachers. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.