An Administrative Perspective: Have the Current Accountability Requirements and Economic Decline Led to a Transformation in Perspective?
Open AccessThe increased focus on accountability requirements over the last decade, predominately associated with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation, combined with the decline in budgetary resources available for academic resources over the last five years, have had a negative impact morale of teachers (Ambrose, Huston, & Norman, 2005; Finnigan & Gross, 2007; Kerlin & Dunlap, 1993; McDermott, 2007; Million, 2005; Mottaz, 1985; Olsen & Sexton, 2009; Owens & Sunderman, 2006). Consistently, researchers have confirmed that these variables have had a negative impact on teachers' morale, which also negatively impacts the academic performance of students (Jenkinson & Chapman, 1990; Patrick et al., 2000; Ryan & Deci, 2000). However, the bulk of this research is predominately from the teachers' perspective. To counter the negative impact these variables have had, and continue to have on staff morale, examining the principals' perspective and what changes, if any, they have made in building and sustaining staff morale is vital. This qualitative study examines the elementary, Title I principals' perspective, based on their experiences with accountability requirements and economic decline. Via semi-structured interviews 11 participants, current and past elementary, Title I principals, discussed their experiences with these variables, how they impacted staff morale, and what changes, if any, they have had to implement in order to make meaning of, build, and sustain staff morale when facing such challenges.
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