Principal Recruitment and Selection Guidebook

Principals “can be powerful multipliers of effective teaching” when they are effective instructional leaders, talent developers, and culture builders. While states typically certify enough principals each year to fill vacancies, some school districts report having a lack of quality candidates. When districts focus on strong principal recruitment and selection, they encourage more people to enter the pipeline and more effectively identify talented candidates with the right skills and expertise that are a good match for schools’ needs, as well as ones who are aligned to the districts priorities.

This guidebook will help district leaders build common understanding of strong practices and identify strategies for improvement.