Chapter 5 A Rigorous Recruitment and Selection Process of the University of Texas at Austin Principalship Program

Abstract

There is growing national attention on the question of how the quality of leadership preparation programs can help to develop effective school leaders and thus impact student learning (Davis, Darling-Hammond, LaPointe, & Meyerson, 2005). In recent years several educational leadership preparation programs have redesigned their content and delivery to be more influential in graduates’ leadership development and subsequent leadership practice focused on school improvement (Young, 2009). Davis, et al. (2005) add that exemplary programs that are effective include important components such as having a rigorous selection process in admission of candidates.

This chapter discusses the recruitment and selection mode utilized by the University of Texas at Austin Principalship Program (UTAPP), which includes several key components associated with exemplary preparation programs (Darling-Hammond, LaPointe, Meyerson, Orr & Cohen, 2007). These components include: rigorous recruitment and careful selection of participants, a cohort structure, and an emphasis on powerful authentic learning experiences (Orr, 2006). While the process has undergone some changes in reason years, it has sought to explore multiple manifestations of the candidate’s leadership. As a result, the program’s recruitment and selection process has evolved into the current iteration, which is outlined in this chapter.

Citation

Gooden, M.A. and Gonzales, R. (2012), "Chapter 5 A Rigorous Recruitment and Selection Process of the University of Texas at Austin Principalship Program", Sanzo, K., Myran, S. and Normore, A.H. (Ed.) Successful School Leadership Preparation and Development (Advances in Educational Administration, Vol. 17), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 97-112. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-3660(2012)0000017008