Volume 4 - Issue 1 - DBU Journal of K-12 Educational Research - Page 49

Journal of K-12 Educational Research 47 to coach principals and properly selecting and assigning mentors can improve principal performance (Browne- Ferrigno, 2007; Grissom & Harrington, 2010; Huff et al., 2013). One participant in the current study indicated a need to be trained in “principal manual 101” and another participant mentioned training very specific to principals in reference to content aligned with professional standards. Exposing principals to standards improves their self- efficacy and exposes them to new ideas concerning mission, values, equity, integrity, and responsiveness (NPBEA, 2015; Williams & Szal, 2011). A cohort can be a source of support for campus principals (Barnett & Caffarella, 1992; Salazar et al., 2013). Training on the budget is especially important for charter school principals who may have both more autonomy and more responsibility for enrollment, fundraising, and budget management than other public school principals (Campbell & Grubb, 2008; Gawlik, 2008; Hedges et al., 2018). Additionally, the literature review of exemplary principal preparation recommended curricular coherence, collaboration between universities and school districts, vigorous recruitment strategies, financial support, and program evaluation as components of exemplary programs (Darling-Hammond et al., 2007; Peterson, 2002; Salazar et al., 2013) Conclusions The results of the current study indicated the perceptions of charter school principals of their role, preparation, and support. When properly prepared and supported for the role, principals are a powerful lever for improving student, teacher, and campus performance. When they are not properly prepared or supported, or their role becomes too difficult or too complex, principals are likely to resign, be replaced, or have a negative impact on their campus if they remain. It is too expensive and too challenging to find and replace principals continuously and to endure the continuous learning cycle of new hires. Instead, districts should clearly define their role expectations for principals, provide necessary support, and ensure their preparation efforts are research-based. Charter school systems must be intentional about developing their principals to ensure that every building and thus every teacher and every student is properly led in order to produce the best possible student outcomes. References Ash, R. C., & Persall, J. M. (2000). The principal as chief learning officer: Developing teacher leaders. NASSP Bulletin, 84 (616), 15–22. Barnett, B. G., & Caffarella, R. S. (1992). The use of cohorts: A powerful way for addressing issues of diversity in preparation programs . Paper presented at the annual meeting of the University Council for Educational Administration, Minneapolis, MN. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED354627.pdf Bottoms, G., & Fry, B. (2009). The district leadership challenge, empowering principals to improve teaching and learning . Retrieved from https://www.wallacefoundation.org/ knowledge-center/Documents/District-Leadership- Challenge-Empowering-Principals.pdf Bowman, D. H. (2000). No rest for leaders of charter schools. Education Week, 20 (14). Retrieved from https:// www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2000/12/06/14chartlead. h20.html Branch, G. F., Hanushek, E. A., & Rivkin, S. G. (2013). School leaders matter. Measuring the impact of effective principals. Education Next, 13 (1). Retrieved from https://www.educationnext.org/school-leaders- matter/ Browne-Ferrigno, T. (2007). Developing school leaders: Practitioner growth during an advanced leadership development program for principals and administrator-trained teachers. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 2 (3), 1-30. doi:10.1177/194277510700200301 Campbell, C., & Grubb, B. J. (2008). Closing the skill gap: New options for charter school leadership development. National Charter Schools Research Project, Center on Reinventing Public Education, University of Washington . Retrieved from https://www.crpe.org/sites/ default/files/pub_ncsrp_icslead_aug14_0.pdf