Principal Hiring Practices: Toward a Reduction of Uncertainty

Principals aim to hire outstanding teachers. But how do they do this? How do they reduce the large number of applicants to a workable number? What process do principals use to hire and to what extent does variation exist among hiring practices? This article investigates the current hiring practices of K–12 principals. Principals were examined on how they screen applicants and hire, what they specifically look for in potential applicants, and whether or not hiring practices are consistent across a variety of principal demographic variables. We conclude by offering a number of implications for administrators and teacher candidates.