Author: James M. Hollinger

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 124

ISBN-13:

This qualitative study explored the perceived rewards and barriers and the balance of these perceptions that contribute to job satisfaction among public elementary school principals and assistant principals. The study took place in 17 school districts in the South-Central region of Pennsylvania. The participants were elementary school principals and assistant principals currently serving in schools with students in grades kindergarten through sixth. The instruments used in this study were the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire consisting of 20 Likert-type statement responses, three open-response questions, and individual interviews. Thirty-two administrators participated in the questionnaire and six administrators participated in the interviews. The results of this study suggest that the elementary school administrators in this region are generally satisfied with their jobs. The administrators reported the rewarding aspect of their job that was most important was the opportunity to help children learn and find success. The administrators also reported that a lack of support from supervisors and frustration due to staff issues were the two most important barriers to their job satisfaction. Participants reported that they achieved balance with the rewards and barriers by focusing on the rewards, such as working with children, rather than focusing on the barriers. Some administrators expressed that finding a balance was challenging.