Typologies of Principals: School Administration and Routine Works

Abstract

This study aims to reveal what the principals’ experience of being a principal means to them. Phenomenological research design was used in the study. The study group of the research selected by the maximum diversity sampling consists of 37 principals. The findings of the study show that the most time-consuming tasks of school principals are grouped under three main headings: (i) supervision and control, (ii) establishing and maintaining relationships and (iii)managing bureaucratic processes. There are 11 types of principals created by these daily works: watchman, fatherly, contractor, office clerk, visible, task sharer, CEO, psychologist, Swiss army knife, film director and culture builder. However, although this study shows that school principals assume more of a specific role and type, it can be stated that the permeability between these roles and types is high and whether or not the principals are mobile and relationship oriented have significant effects on the types they take on.