Principals\u27 dispositions toward using a commercial protocol to screen teacher applicants

This study examined principals\u27 perceptions toward the use of a prescreening protocol in teacher selection practices and the value that principals place on common teacher selection criteria. The researcher determined levels of association between dispositions and level of job assignment, years of teaching experience, and years of administrative experience. The study population was 47 school principals employed in three central Ohio districts that used the same commercial prescreening protocol during 2013 and 2014. Principals completed a paper survey administered by the researcher at administrative meetings in each district. The survey contained three sections with questions related to principals\u27 dispositions toward the use of a prescreening protocol, the value principals placed on common teacher selection criteria, and level of job assignment and principals\u27 years of experience in teaching and administration. Pearson\u27s product-moment coefficients were computed to determine the strength of the associations, while a coefficient of determination was calculated to determine the association between the criterion variable and the predictor variables. The primary findings of the study are summarized in five findings. First, 91% of the principals had a positive or somewhat positive disposition toward using a commercial protocol. Second, while principals had more positive than negative dispositions toward the use of the protocol, five other selection criteria were rated as having higher value; those criteria were verbal communication skills, demeanor, quality of teaching experience, philosophy of education, and written communication skills. Third, principals agreed or strongly agreed that the protocol evaluation accurately identified persons who should be removed from an applicant pool. Fourth, principals placed a greater emphasis on personal qualities over professional criteria in teacher candidates. Last, there were only small levels of association between principals\u27 attitudes toward protocols and each of three demographic variables (level of school assignment, teaching experience, and administrative experience). Implications of these findings for policy and further research are presented