Yeshiva high school principals: Self-reported roles and tasks

Abstract

This study explores the nature of the Jewish Day School principalship at the secondary level. Day Schools are self-governed institutions, vesting in their principal much or all of the responsibility for instructional supervision and the ongoing administration of the school.;Utilizing a researcher-made questionnaire completed by Day School principals, this study identifies the role of the principal and the personal and professional characteristics of those who currently hold this position.;It addresses four major areas: (1) The structural characteristics of the school and the principal's role within this structure; (2) The religious and educational philosophy of the school; (3) The range of responsibility for the principal, and how his time is managed within that spectrum of duties; (4) The personal and professional background of the principal.;This study provides important data on the role of the Yeshiva high school principal and the organizational and educational format of the Yeshiva high school. While beset with managerial functions similar to their colleagues in public school, Yeshiva high school principals are far more likely to teach. As a group they have a high level of graduate training, considerable experience in teaching and administration, and turn-over occurs far less frequently for Yeshiva high school principals than for Yeshiva elementary school principals.;Important comparisons are drawn between Yeshiva high school principals and other secondary school principals, especially those of the public schools. The findings suggest that the principal of the Yeshiva high school has many responsibilities like that of his public and private school counterpart. His role tends to be broader, however, than that of the public high school principal, and is in many ways akin to that of a public school superintendent.;Based on the findings of this study the researcher suggests directions for the development of graduate and in-service training of principals and also makes recommendations regarding school management to achieve optimal administrative and instructional functioning.