The role of the principal as viewed by North Carolina superintendents

The purpose of this study was to investigate the view held by public school superintendents in North Carolina concerning the role of the principal. This investigation considered the independent variables of highest degree earned by the superintendent, prior experience as a principal, length of service as a superintendent, awareness of current literature on educational leadership, size of the school system where employed, and the self perception held by the superintendent as to his/her role in the central office. Data were obtained from a sample of 111 responses to a questionnaire mailed to the total population of 140 superintendents in the state exclusive of the writer. Data were analyzed according to eight specific research questions asked by the study regarding perceptions of the population members as to the role of the principals with whom they work and of those in other school systems in the state. This information was analyzed according to the six independent variables used in the study, and a chi square test was conducted for each set of data. Variables significant at the .01 confidence level were determined. The findings suggested that none of the independent variables were significant in the superintendents' perception of the proper role of the principal. However, all six of the variables were significant in the superintendents' perceptions of the actual roles being assumed by principals. North Carolina superintendents were in general agreement concerning the proper role for principals but did not believe that a majority of principals were actually filling that role