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Seton Hall University

A Qualitative Examination of Factors Influencing Assistant Principal Motivation to Pursue a Principalship in an Era of Accountability

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The purpose of this study was to examine assistant principals with five or more years of experience and investigate the factors that influence their decision to pursue a school principal position. The study examined Self-Determined Motivation Theory and identified components that influence assistant principal motivation. The study found that assistant principals have a high level of self-efficacy and believe in their ability to positively impact educational organizations. The study also found that accountability pressures of Achieve NJ and No Child Left Behind influence the perception of the school principal role and limit the attractiveness of the position among career assistant principals. The study also found that assistant principals enjoy the role of implementation regarding school programs and vision. Assistant principals appreciate the ability to remain in close contact with students and all components of school leadership and see the school principal position as limiting what they find to be most enjoyable as school administrators. This study included ten assistant principals with five or more years experience from all grade spans, socioeconomic status, and demographic groups but was limited to Middlesex County, New Jersey.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Executive Ed.D. in Education Leadership Management and Policy
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Education Leadership, Management and Policy
Year dc:date.available
2013

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Brotschul, Brian B
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Barbara Strobert, Ed.D.
  • Anthony Colella, Ph.D.
  • Edward Westervelt, Ed.D.
  • Virginia Stillson, Psy.D.

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/1929
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholarship.shu.edu:dissertations-2936

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Seton Hall University
Base URL
scholarship.shu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Brotschul, Brian B. A Qualitative Examination of Factors Influencing Assistant Principal Motivation to Pursue a Principalship in an Era of Accountability. Dissertation thesis, 2013. https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/1929