Title: Reluctant leaders: Why are some capable leaders not interested in the principalship?

Authors: Kirk Anderson, Ken Brien, Gerry McNamara, Joe O'Hara, Dale McIsaac

Addresses: University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 5A3, Canada. ' University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 5A3, Canada. ' School of Education Studies, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland. ' School of Education Studies, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland. ' University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 5A3, Canada

Abstract: This paper is a starting point in work that we hope, indeed are certain, will lead to a better understanding of the respective national context for leadership succession in Ireland and Canada while also contributing to the international perspective. Specifically, we are investigating the reasons why teachers trained in school leadership, possessing the qualifications and attributes needed to assume leadership positions, are not applying for the principalship. We call these teachers |reluctant leaders|. We hope that by investigating the factors which are inhibiting them from going forward for promotion we may illuminate solutions to what is becoming a crisis in many educational systems.

Keywords: educational administration; principalships; succession planning; teachers; leadership training; reluctance factors; reluctant leaders; practice standards; leadership roles; teaching; capable leaders; capability; national contexts; Ireland; Canada; international perspectives; school leadership; educational systems; promotion; school principals; education management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2011.042889

International Journal of Management in Education, 2011 Vol.5 No.4, pp.384 - 400

Published online: 12 Feb 2015 *

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