Relative Influences of Arizona High School Principals' Job Satisfaction

Abstract

High school principals are organizational leaders that are critical to the pursuit of providing students a quality opportunity to learn. Impeding the attraction and retention of quality leadership is the thoughtful analysis of influences affecting the job satisfaction of the high school principal.This study used a mixed-method approach to data gathering. The quantitative method selected was survey research. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics by frequency distributions, percentages, means, and standard deviations. In addition, the five hypotheses were tested using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). When the omnibus Fs indicated significance, Tukey's post-hoc tests were performed to determine which level/groups of the independent variables were significantly different.The second method used to gather data was qualitative techniques in research. A semi-structured interview of five Arizona high school principals was constructed based on the analysis of data derived from the quantitative survey.Results of the analysis suggested that being a high school principal in the State of Arizona can be an intrinsically, extrinsically, and generally satisfying job. In addition, results of this study suggest a significant relationship between high school principals' job satisfaction and the quality of their professional development. This project also revealed there was no significant relationship between job satisfaction and financial compensation.Future research should look to determine if quality professional development is defined as the current needs facing the high school principal, the lack of preparation individuals received prior to becoming a high school principal, or if quality professional development is significant because it provides high school principals the opportunity to develop relationships with colleagues outside of their individual school.