Strong Principal Talent Management Increases Principal Retention

Being a principal is a hard job in normal circumstances, but COVID-19 made the job of leading campuses nearly impossible for many. In a recent survey, one out of two principals said their stress level is so high that they are considering career change or retirement. This report details findings from a five-year project called the School Leadership District Cohort which entailed working with four school districts to better understand the impact of Principal Talent Management on school leaders. The belief was that if districts improve their Principal Talent Management policy and practice, principals will stay longer in their jobs. These findings can help other districts take effective action to support and retain their principals---and recruit new ones---to ensure that their campuses are led by strong school leaders.