CAREER EXPECTATIONS AND JOB FUNCTIONS OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AS PERCEIVED BY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA

The purpose of this study was to determine the actual job functions of the elementary school assistant principals in relation to their career aspirations. This was done by comparing the job functions of assistants who chose assistant principalship as a stepping-stone to principalship with those assistants who chose assistant principalship as a career. In addition, a comparison was done between the career aspirations of male and of female assistant principals. The study also compared the perceptions of the job functions of assistant principalship between principals and assistant principals and between male and female assistant principals. The Assistant Principal Job Function Questionnaire was developed by the researcher to determine the actual job functions of assistant principals in six categories of responsibility: (1) School Administration and Supervision, (2) Curriculum and Instructional Supervision, (3) Pupil Services, (4) Clerical Work, (5) School/ Community Relations, and (5) Professional Development and Involvement. The questionnaire was mailed to all 122 elementary school administrators in the Palm Beach County Schools. Fifty-three principals and fifty-seven assistant principals responded, making a total of 110, or 90 percent. A Chi-Square analysis of responses was done to determine significant relationships in each of the comparisons. Findings of the study suggest that there were significant differences in the perceptions of the job functions of the assistant principalship (1) between assistant principals and principals, (2) between male and female assistant principals, and (3) between the assistants who aspired to principalship and those who did not. There was a significant difference between male and female assistant principals in their career aspirations. The principals recognized their responsibility for the training of their assistants for principalship, but many female assistant principals were undecided about seeking the principalship. Assistant principals consistently perceived themselves to have more responsibility than the principals perceived them to have. Male assistant principals perceived themselves to have more responsibility than the female assistant principals perceived themselves to have. Assistant principals who chose the assistant principalship as a stepping-stone to the principalship perceived themselves to have more responsibility than the assistant principals who chose the assistant principalship as a career perceived themselves to have.