Challenges of being a novice principal in a decentralized school district in a remote community in northern Canada, The

This qualitative comparative case study answered the main research question of what challenges four novice principals experienced, within the context of a decentralized school district, in a remote, northern Canadian community. The district administrator provided a unique perspective of what challenges she believed the novice principals faced in the school district. Additionally, the study answered subsequent research questions about the strategies novice principals utilized to begin their year, and the policies and procedures the school district employed to support their novice principals. Data collection included: 1) interviews with the novice principals and with the district administrator, 2) participants’ personal reflections, and 3) a focus group discussion. The findings confirmed the complexity of the principalship due to the demands of the job, and the amount of resiliency required. Two challenges experienced by the participants were budget management, because of the context of a decentralized school district, and managing the building. One strategy the participants identified for beginning the year successfully was to spend time building relationships with staff members and seeking their input. Additionally, the participants felt that a significant part of their successful preparation included an apprenticeship as a vice principal. Furthermore, they described how their former principals mentored them through the challenges they encountered during their first year in the principalship.