Georgia’s Public School Principals and Assistant Principals...Georgia’s Public School Principals...

Georgia’s Public School Principals and Assistant

Principals

Summary of Leadership Experience, Age, and Retirement Status

October 2017

Prepared by:

Sam Rauschenberg

This page intentionally left blank.

Georgia’s Public School Principals and Assistant Principals

i

Overview

In spring 2017, the General Assembly created a Joint Study Committee on the Establishment of a

Leadership Academy to study the possibility of establishing a leadership academy to support public

school principals and other school leaders. The committee requested the Governor’s Office of Student

Achievement (GOSA) provide a report on the current status of public school building-level leaders.

The following report summarizes the leadership experience, age, and retirement status of current

principals and assistant principals. It examines statewide patterns, as well as by Regional Education

Service Agency (RESA) and district size, combining data from the Professional Standards Commission

(PSC) and the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS) for the 2016-2017 school year.1

For the district size comparison, districts are placed into the following four groups of districts:2

• Small (76 districts with fewer than 10 principals and assistant principals)

• Midsize (79 districts with 11-50 principals and assistant principals)

• Large (11 districts with 51-100 principals and assistant principals)

• Very Large (13 districts with more than 100 principals and assistant principals)

Key Findings for Principals

• The average principal has nine years of building-level experience and five years of experience as

a principal.

• Principals in small districts generally have much less building-level experience compared to large

or very large districts.

• 41% have three or fewer years of experience as a principal. Only 12% have more than ten years

of principal experience.

• The average age of a principal is 48 years old. Most are 54 or younger.

• One-fourth of principals are currently eligible for retirement, and another 29% will become

eligible within five years.

• In districts with 100 or fewer leaders, roughly 6 in 10 leaders are either eligible now or will be

eligible to retire within five years.

Key Findings for Assistant Principals

• The average assistant principal has five years of building-level leadership experience, but half

have three or fewer years of building-level experience.

• As above, assistant principals in small districts tend to have less experience compared to large

and very large districts, but the difference is not as wide.

• The average age of an assistant principal is 45 years old. Only 3% are 60 or older.

• One-third of assistant principals are either eligible for retirement now or within five years.

• In small districts, 46% are either eligible now or within five years.


ii

Table of Contents

Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ i

Building-Level Leadership Experience ........................................................................................................ 1

Building-Level Principal Years of Experience ............................................................................................. 4

Age of Building-Level Leaders..................................................................................................................... 6

Retirement Eligibility .................................................................................................................................... 9

Appendix I: Leader Counts by District Size and RESA ............................................................................. 12

Appendix II: Geographical Information for Context .................................................................................. 13

Map of Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESAs) ..................................................................... 13

Map of Districts by Count of Building-Level Leaders ........................................................................... 14

Maps of Districts with Fewer than 3,500 Students ................................................................................. 15

Map of 2016 Chronically Failing Schools (as published by GOSA in January 2017) ........................... 16

Notes ........................................................................................................................................................... 17


1

Building-Level Leadership Experience

2016-2017 Statewide Principal Summary

2,176 principals

2016-2017 Statewide Assistant Principal Summary

3,685 assistant principals

RESA and district size charts are on the following two pages. A map of RESAs is available in the report

appendix for reference.

Summary Findings for Principals

• The average principal has nine years of building-level experience.

• 16% have three or fewer years of experience, while nearly half have four to ten years of

experience.

• Principals in small districts generally have much less building-level experience compared to large

or very large districts.

• Oconee RESA has the largest percentage of principals with three or fewer years of experience

(38%). Metro and Northwest Georgia RESA have the smallest percentages (10% and 9%).

Summary Findings for Assistant Principals

• The average assistant principal has five years of building-level leadership experience, but half

have three or fewer years of building-level experience.

• As above, assistant principals in small districts tend to have less experience compared to large

and very large districts, but the difference is not as wide.

• Two-thirds of assistant principals in Okefenokee RESA have three or fewer years of experience.

• Ten of 16 RESAs have 50% or more assistant principals with three or fewer years of experience.

348

999

798

31

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

0-3 years 4-10 years 11-20 years 21+ years

Nu

mb

er o

f L

ead

ers

Experience as Principal or Asst. Principal

Building-Level Years of Experience

16% 46% 37%

1,832

1,397

446

100

500

1,000

1,500

2,000


Nu

mb

er o

f L

ead

ers

Experience as Principal or Asst. Principal

Building-Level Years of Experience

50% 38% 12%


2

16%

9%

10%

12%

14%

14%

15%

15%

16%

17%

23%

26%

26%

26%

27%

27%

38%

46%

46%

48%

48%

47%

41%

49%

53%

40%

46%

46%

45%

44%

43%

32%

45%

42%

37%

43%

40%

38%

40%

42%

34%

32%

42%

36%

30%

28%

28%

29%

38%

27%

17%

1%

1%

2%

2%

0%

2%

2%

0%

2%

1%

1%

2%

1%

1%

3%

0%

4%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Statewide

Northwest Georgia

Metro

First

North Georgia

Griffin

Central Savannah River

Coastal Plains

Middle Georgia

West Georgia

Pioneer

Okefenokee

Southwest Georgia

Northeast Georgia

Heart of Georgia

Chattahoochee-Flint

Oconee

Principal Building-Level Leadership Years of Experience

by RESA

0-3 4-10 11-20 21+

10%

10%

19%

34%

48%

41%

45%

45%

40%

47%

35%

19%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Very Large (>100 Leaders)

Large (51-100 Leaders)

Midsize (11-50 Leaders)

Small (<10 Leaders)

Principal Building-Level Leadership Years of Experience

by District Size0-3 4-10 11-20 21+


3

47%

48%

52%

57%

39%

38%

38%

34%

14%

13%

10%

8%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%




Small (<10 Leaders)

Asst. Principal Building-Level Leadership Years of Experience

by District Size0-3 4-10 11-20 21+

50%

44%

47%

47%

47%

47%

48%

50%

51%

52%

53%

53%

54%

55%

58%

58%

66%

38%

40%

41%

38%

44%

39%

35%

40%

36%

37%

41%

40%

34%

36%

35%

31%

30%

12%

16%

12%

14%

8%

14%

16%

9%

12%

11%

6%

7%

11%

10%

8%

9%

4%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Statewide

North Georgia

Northwest Georgia

Metro

Northeast Georgia

West Georgia

Oconee

Coastal Plains

Griffin

First

Pioneer

Middle Georgia

Chattahoochee-Flint

Heart of Georgia


Southwest Georgia

Okefenokee

Asst. Principal Building-Level Leadership Years of Experience

by RESA

0-3 4-10 11-20 21+


4

Building-Level Principal Years of Experience


2,176 principals

RESA and district size charts are on the following page. A map of RESAs is available in the report



• The average principal has five years of experience as a principal.

• 41% have three or fewer years of experience. Only 12% have more than ten years of principal

experience.

• More than half of small district principals have three or fewer years of experience as a principal,

compared to 37% in large and very large districts.

• Four of 16 RESAs have more than half of principals with three or fewer years of experience as a

principal (Oconee, Southwest Georgia, Chattahoochee-Flint, and Coastal Plains). Another seven

RESAs have 40% or more with fewer than three years of principal experience.

Most assistant principals do not have experience as a principal. However, 110 assistant principals (3%)

have at least one year of experience as a principal.

8961,012

261

70

500

1,000

1,500

2,000


Nu

mb

er o

f L

ead

ers

Experience as Principal

Years of Experience as Principal

41% 47% 12%


5

37%

37%

43%

55%

50%

46%

46%

39%

13%

17%

11%

6%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%




Small (<10 Leaders)

Principal Years of Experience as Principal by District Size0-3 4-10 11-20 21+

41%

30%

35%

37%

38%

39%

40%

41%

43%

45%

47%

47%

49%

50%

51%

56%

58%

47%

58%

51%

47%

50%

43%

47%

45%

45%

43%

51%

42%

41%

39%

40%

36%

38%

12%

12%

14%

15%

12%

18%

14%

14%

13%

10%

0% 2%

11%

8% 2%

11%

9%

9%

4%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Statewide

Northwest Georgia

First


Metro

Griffin

North Georgia

Middle Georgia

West Georgia

Pioneer

Okefenokee

Northeast Georgia

Heart of Georgia

Coastal Plains

Chattahoochee-Flint

Southwest Georgia

Oconee

Years of Experience as a Principal by RESA

0-3 4-10 11-20 21+


6

Age of Building-Level Leaders


2,176 principals






• The average age of a principal is 48 years old. Most are 54 or younger.

• Principal age is generally consistent across various sizes of districts.

• Most principals in all RESAs are below 55 years old.

• 1 in 10 principals in Central Savannah River RESA are 60 or older. 25% are 55 or older.

• West Georgia RESA has no principals who are 60 or order, and only 9% who are 55 or older.


• The average age of an assistant principal is 45 years old. Only 3% are 60 or older.

• Assistant principal age is similar across various district sizes. However, small district assistant

principals tend to be slightly older.

• As with principals, most assistant principals in all RESAs are below 55 years old.

• One in five assistant principals in Chattahoochee-Flint RESA are at least 55 years old.

• Half of RESAs have 50% or more assistant principals who are younger than 45 years old.

98 228

1,135

715

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

60+ 55-59 45-54 Below 45

Nu

mb

er o

f L

ead

ers

Age Category

Age

33%52%11%5%

126293

1,416

1,850

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

60+ 55-59 45-54 Below 45

Nu

mb

er o

f L

ead

ers

Age Category

Age

50%39%8%3%


7

5%

6%

4%

5%

10%

11%

10%

12%

51%

53%

54%

52%

35%

30%

31%

32%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%




Small (<10 Leaders)

Principal Age by District Size60+ 55-59 45-54 <45

5%

2%

2%

2%

4%

4%

5%

6%

6%

6%

6%

6%

7%

8%

10%

10%

17%

9%

15%

15%

14%

8%

11%

8%

13%

11%

10%

10%

12%

6%

11%

15%

52%

50%

66%

57%

49%

56%

50%

50%

53%

46%

55%

59%

51%

54%

52%

46%

50%

33%

33%

26%

26%

34%

28%

38%

35%

34%

35%

28%

25%

33%

27%

35%

35%

24%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Statewide

Oconee

West Georgia

Pioneer

Okefenokee

Chattahoochee-Flint

Metro

Coastal Plains

Northwest Georgia

Griffin

Northeast Georgia

North Georgia

Southwest Georgia

First

Middle Georgia

Heart of Georgia


Principal Age by RESA

60+ 55-59 45-54 <45


8

4%

2%

4%

3%

8%

8%

8%

10%

37%

41%

40%

41%

52%

49%

48%

45%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%




Small (<10 Leaders)

Asst. Principal Age by District Size60+ 55-59 45-54 <45

3%

2%

2%

3%

3%

3%

3%

3%

4%

4%

4%

5%

7%

10%

8%

10%

7%

6%

2%

5%

11%

11%

6%

7%

8%

12%

9%

13%

5%

9%

11%

38%

29%

39%

44%

32%

48%

45%

44%

34%

37%

41%

35%

42%

38%

39%

34%

37%

50%

61%

53%

48%

64%

45%

41%

42%

57%

52%

48%

50%

45%

45%

52%

50%

41%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Statewide

Oconee

Griffin

Northeast Georgia

Okefenokee

Heart of Georgia

Middle Georgia

First

West Georgia

Metro

Northwest Georgia

Coastal Plains

North Georgia

Pioneer


Southwest Georgia

Chattahoochee-Flint

Assistant Principal Age by RESA

60+ 55-59 45-54 <45


9

Retirement Eligibility


2,176 principals






• One-fourth of principals are currently eligible for retirement, and another 29% will become

eligible within five years.

• In districts with 100 or fewer leaders, roughly 6 in 10 leaders are either eligible now or will be

eligible to retire within five years.

• In four RESAs, 33% or more principals are currently eligible for retirement (Northeast Georgia,

North Georgia, Central Savannah River, and Heart of Georgia).

• Metro RESA has fewer principals who are eligible for retirement now or within five years than

other RESAs.


• One-third of assistant principals are either eligible for retirement now or within five years.

• In small districts, 46% are either eligible now or within five years.

• Seven of 16 RESAs have 40% or more assistant principals who are eligible now or within five

years.

• While Metro RESA has the second fewest assistant principals who are eligible now or within five

years, the difference from other RESAs is not as large as with principals.

545 631619

381

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

Eligible Less than 5

yrs

5-10 yrs 10+ yrs

Nu

mb

er o

f L

ead

ers

Years until Eligble


25% 29% 28% 18%

522710

1,080

1,373

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

Eligible Less than 5

yrs

5-10 yrs 10+ yrsN

um

ber

of

Lea

der

s

Years until Eligble


14% 19% 29% 37%


10

22%

28%

28%

27%

26%

31%

32%

32%

31%

29%

26%

27%

21%

12%

15%

15%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%




Small (<10 Leaders)

Principal Retirement Eligibility by District SizeNow <5 Years 5-10 Yrs 10+ Yrs

25%

20%

17%

23%

20%

28%

25%

29%

31%

30%

25%

35%

28%

33%

34%

28%

35%

29%

25%

38%

32%

35%

27%

31%

28%

27%

29%

35%

27%

35%

30%

30%

36%

29%

28%

33%

38%

32%

32%

24%

31%

24%

25%

29%

25%

24%

28%

23%

19%

28%

22%

18%

22%

8%

13%

13%

20%

13%

19%

17%

13%

15%

14%

9%

14%

17%

9%

14%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Statewide

Metro

Oconee

Pioneer

Northwest Georgia

Coastal Plains

Griffin

First

Southwest Georgia

West Georgia

Chattahoochee-Flint

Heart of Georgia

Middle Georgia


North Georgia

Okefenokee

Northeast Georgia

Principal Retirement Eligibility by RESANow <5 Years 5-10 Yrs 10+ Yrs


11

12%

12%

19%

20%

18%

21%

21%

26%

30%

30%

29%

26%

41%

37%

32%

28%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%




Small (<10 Leaders)

Asst. Principal Retirement Eligibility by District SizeNow <5 Years 5-10 Yrs 10+ Yrs

14%

10%

12%

12%

14%

13%

12%

19%

16%

19%

14%

19%

19%

19%

16%

18%

23%

19%

17%

17%

18%

17%

18%

21%

16%

22%

21%

26%

21%

22%

22%

26%

24%

23%

29%

33%

30%

34%

25%

33%

43%

29%

29%

32%

32%

26%

24%

26%

22%

30%

26%

37%

40%

41%

36%

44%

36%

24%

35%

33%

29%

28%

33%

35%

33%

37%

28%

29%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Statewide

West Georgia

Metro

Okefenokee


Griffin

Heart of Georgia

Oconee

Northwest Georgia

North Georgia

Pioneer

Southwest Georgia

First

Northeast Georgia

Coastal Plains

Middle Georgia

Chattahoochee-Flint

Asst. Principal Retirement Eligibility by RESANow <5 Years 5-10 Yrs 10+ Yrs


12

Appendix I: Leader Counts by District Size and RESA

Count of Building-Level Leaders by District Size

District Size Number of

Principals

Number of

Asst. Principals Total

Very Large (>100 Leaders) 928 1,922 2,850

Large (51-100 Leaders) 307 496 803

Midsize (11-50 Leaders) 678 1,002 1,680

Small (<10 Leaders) 236 239 475

No Category* 27 26 53

Statewide 2,176 3,685 5,861

*State Charter School, State School, and Department of Juvenile Justice leaders are excluded from

the district size analysis.

Count of Building-Level Leaders by RESA

RESA Number of

Principals

Number of

Asst. Principals Total

Central Savannah River 123 153 276

Chattahoochee-Flint 88 97 185

Coastal Plains 74 101 175

First 178 254 432

Griffin 126 228 354

Heart of Georgia 37 42 79

Metro 725 1,627 2,352

Middle Georgia 100 155 255

North Georgia 88 151 239

Northeast Georgia 106 144 250

Northwest Georgia 152 229 381

Oconee 24 31 55

Okefenokee 47 50 97

Pioneer 106 150 256

Southwest Georgia 81 118 199

West Georgia 94 129 223

No RESA* 27 26 53

Statewide 2,176 3,685 5,861

*State Charter School, State School, and Department of Juvenile Justice leaders are excluded

from the RESA analysis.


13

Appendix II: Geographical Information for Context

Map of Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESAs)


14

Map of Districts by Count of Building-Level Leaders


15

Maps of Districts with Fewer than 3,500 Students


16

Map of 2016 Chronically Failing Schools (as published by GOSA in January 2017)


17

Notes

1 The report includes all Principals (610) and Assistant Principals (615) reported in the March 2017

Certified/Classified Personnel Information (CPI) Data Collection as provided by the Professional Standards

Commission (PSC) who were still active in the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia as of June 30, 2017. 334

leaders from the 2016-2017 file were either already retired, refunded, or not in the system as of June 30, 2017. The

report does not take into account employment changes between March and September 2017. For data matching, the

PSC developed an individual-level file from the March 2017 CPI data collection that included years of experience

and age and provided it to TRS. TRS then matched its retirement records and removed all identifying information

before providing GOSA with an individual-level data file. For the purposes of this report, PSC is the source of

leadership experience information, and TRS is the source for age and retirement eligibility. 2 State charter schools, state schools, and the Department of Juvenile Justice schools were excluded from the district

size analysis.

Georgia’s Public School Principals and Assistant Principals...Georgia’s Public School Principals...

Documents

Transcript of Georgia’s Public School Principals and Assistant Principals...Georgia’s Public School Principals...