This article systematically reviews the literature noting unplanned meetings of the principal or unplanned principal meetings (UPMs) from 1970 to 2022. UPMs are understudied though they are considered essential for communication and/or labeled as distractions. The purpose of this review is to examine notations of UPMs in academic literature to…

Purpose: We describe urban school principals' time use, including their time allocation across work tasks and locations, and how time use varies by school context. Research Method: Trained observers recorded leaders' time use in five-minute increments over full school days in four urban school districts. The full sample included approximately 650…

This study explored the experience of Catholic school principals in Ohio whose schools have participated in the EdChoice Scholarship program. The researcher employed the lens of principal time usage to examine the experiences of Ohio Catholic school principals with EdChoice, with a focus on the direct experiences of principals participating in the…

Background: School principals usually have to sacrifice health and family obligations to obtain sufficient work time. This study investigates school principals' somatic and psychological discomfort related to their time allocation to diverse work contexts and life domains, so as to test the optimal allocation of time to each context and domain.…

This study examines the work-life balance of Texas principals, focusing on role balance, overload, and ease and how these factors vary across different school levels when accounting for hours worked. Principals are critical to the success of schools but often face significant stress and burnout due to excessive job demands, long working hours, and…

Purpose: To advance the study of principal time use (PTU), the purpose of this study is to report findings from a systematic review of PTU research. In addition to identifying common findings, this study also examined the supporting evidence and methodologies of PTU studies. From this dual approach, this study specified the evidence that supports…

A concerning attribute of teacher evaluations across countries is the systemic leniency of principals during classroom observations. However, little is known about the motivations behind this phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to explore the motivating factors behind principals' leniency in an authentic teacher evaluation system. In this…

In this qualitative study, we examined the perspectives of four urban K-12 principals on what hinders and helps their vitality. Grounded in 60 minute interviews, 10 monthly, full-day observations, and document analysis with each participant, we identified three themes hindering their vitality: (a) illusion of control of productivity strategies and…

Limited research examines the process of leading innovative school change from the perspective of principals. In this case study, three school principals implement a novel school model, franchise model schools. Using interviews, the researchers examined the successes and challenges principals experienced while implementing and leading this change.…

Purpose: As responsibilities of high school principals continue to expand, their workweeks become longer, and their attention is stretched in multiple directions. How principals from various school types use their time is influenced by their organizational structures and external policies. To gain deeper insights into the workload, priorities and…

Purpose: Despite increased focus on the importance of the time principals spend on instructional leadership, there is little research on practical ways to help principals manage their time to achieve this goal. The purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation of the school administration manager (SAM) process: a unique program designed…

Purpose: Recent teacher evaluation reforms around the globe substantially increased the number of teacher observations, consequently raising observers' (typically school administrators') observational loads. The purpose of this study is to examine associations between observational loads and school administrator turnover, reported time use and…

Department heads are increasingly responsible for instructional leadership. Therefore, it is important to understand the antecedents of self-efficacy in their work, which can motivate them to increase their leadership efforts. Our theoretical model depends on principals' feedback for department heads, department heads' trust in their principals,…

Narrative accounts of classroom instruction suggest that external interruptions, such as intercom announcements and visits from staff, are a regular occurrence in U.S. public schools. We study the frequency, nature, duration, and consequences of external interruptions in the Providence Public School District (PPSD) using original data from a…

This paper examines online collaboration between small rural primary schools in New Zealand, focusing on principals' perspectives. Through semi-structured interviews with eight principals involved in the Virtual Learning Network (VLN) Primary, the study explores the benefits, challenges, and key factors for successful collaboration. The findings…