Abstract:

This study aims to determine the views of principals, vice principals and teachers taking the exam and participating in the interviews to be selected as a school administrator, and on reasons of their preferences and the administrator appointment processes. This study is a qualitative research in phenomenology design. A total of 32 participants, 6 principals, 10 vice principals and 16 teachers, participated in the study. Research data were collected with a semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers and analyzed with content analysis. At the end of the study, the reasons of the participants’ preferences for being a school administrator were gathered under the themes of the ideal of being an administrator and seeking an alternative to teaching profession conditions. The concepts of contributing and serving to the school, feeling more effective and good in administration, liking of being an administrator and being a role model administrator come to the fore under the theme of the ideal of being an administrator. Situations such as new experiences and quest, lessons and norms, crowded classes, parent interventions and relocation appeared in the theme of seeking an alternative to teaching profession conditions. The results show that written exams are inclusive and appropriate in the administrator appointment process, besides scoring the interview results in line with the exam score increases the objectivity in this process to the participants. However, the interviews are considered as unnecessary. The effects of these findings on schools, suggestions for future applications and research are discussed.

Keywords: