The hidden cost of school leadership: The problem

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I love the role of school leadership.

I have such a deep appreciation for the role, and I hope that more decide to get into school leaders; I hope that more thrive, but more importantly, I want more to stay. I know school leaders must navigate the ever-changing and evolving education landscape. I know firsthand how challenging and unsustainable the work can be at times.

In this three-part series, Iā€™ll explore these issues, drawing on both my own experiences and insights from peers. This series also supports my preparation for an upcoming March presentation at the SXSW EDU Conference. Part 1 will define the challenges, part 2 will delve deeper into specific challenges and part 3 will present what I hope are some actionable solutions to help.

During those early years as principal, I remember going to work, and it was dark, and leaving work, and it was dark. I remember weekends up there early Saturday morning and returning Sunday after church. The job felt like it was 24/7/365. It was manageable then, at least I thought, because in those first four years, I did not have a child, so my role was my child, and in many situations, it was my life.

In many cases, I was the first to arrive and almost always the last to leave. If being principal was not enough, I coached the sports team, hosted community meetings in the evening and even rented our gym out to basketball clubs.

All these demands meant that I was still there when the students and teachers left. I was in my office working. I do not want this to come off as a complaint. Those of you who have been in a school leader role know what I am describing is part of the work, especially when you are budling something or turning something around.

Now, when I talk to many principals, especially newer school leaders, they describe this same type of schedule.

Unlike them, I have been down the road of this, and I know what it looks like to be three or four years at this pace. I talked with a group of school leaders, and they described the job’s demands to me in great detail. They describe how those demands were spilling over into their life at home.

Most of them were in different home situations than I was. I was single with no children at the time. These school leaders were husbands and wives at home. They had children who were young or had events and things they were involved with. Many were reaching a point where they could no longer handle the load. They described health complications they were experiencing, lack of sleep and lack of proper diet. Some expressed how they missed out on events and quality time with their loved ones. Many mentioned stresses from the job and the overall profession.

These leaders knew the importance of self-care; it was just something that was easier said than done consistently.

The school leaders I spoke with are the exception. School leadership in the post-COVID era has claimed the careers of many school leaders. Research is out there that highlights the growing rates of school leader attrition. Many are walking away because they feel they cannot do the work anymore or it is not sustainable. Many are opting for either early retirement or simply quitting and moving on to something different. School leaders’ struggles post-COVID have also intensified due to educational inequalities, the politicization of education and declining test scores.

The role of school leadership was once a desired and lifelong calling. I remember that, growing up, people stayed in these roles for 20 to 30 years; now, on average, it is around 5-10 years.

In the light of burnout, the rising demands, and the lingering impacts of schooling after the pandemic, school leaders, I believe, are asking two questions: is this worth it anymore, and what else is there for me? Many seek answers by evaluating their connection to work, schools and the broader educational landscape. One person described it to me this way, “success and sustainability in this work comes at a cost. I do not think I want to pay that cost any longer.”

Be on the lookout for part 2 of the series as we define the problem.

Dr. David McGuire is an educator and researcher, and he hosts a podcast called The Recess Podcast. Additionally, McGuire is researching the support needed for Black educators who aspire to become principals. If you are a Black educator who aspires to be a school leader, click here and take the school principal confidence survey to provide valuable research data.