The increased responsibilities for principals come against a backdrop of budget reductions and the consolidation of jobs. The study found that during the last four years, California has cut school spending by 23% — or $1,414 per student, more than any other state.
Meanwhile, the average K-3 class size increased to 25 students during the 2010-11 school year, compared to 20 students in 2008-09.
The WestEd report also touched on growing interest in teacher effectiveness, and the principal’s role in evaluating teachers. Among those surveyed, 74% reported moderate to significant experience in conducting classroom observations or walk-throughs, and 63% said they had moderate to significant experience in formally evaluating teachers.
But many principals said that they need more training and time to conduct evaluations, and only about a third reported that formal evaluations factor significantly into teachers’ professional development plans for the following year.
Burroughs High School Principal Emilio Urioste said that he and his colleagues are donning new hats for a number of different reasons. His 14 years in the classroom and 14 years as an administrator have helped him handle the increased responsibilities, Urioste said.
“I survive given my breadth of experience,” Urioste said. “Newer principals may find these added duties to be challenging, at the very least. What you have to maintain is an attitude that says I can learn new things and prioritize my time to get them accomplished.”
Other local principals said that the findings reflect what they hear from colleagues in other districts, but that isn’t necessarily the case here. Hoover High School Principal Jennifer Earl said that she has lost only one teacher specialist in recent years.
