The Paradox of Being a Principal: Supporter or Assessor of Underperforming Teachers - Dr Jill Elsworth (2006 MSP/APPA Award Winner)

Dr Jill Ellsworth, the inaugural recipient (in 2006) of the MSP/APPA Research Award. The report of her research is The paradox of being a Principal: Supporter or assessor of underperforming teachers. In the Executive Summary, she writes:

"The researcher is the recipient of the Master School Portraits/APPA Research Award, 2006. This research investigates principals’ well-being in relation to managing teachers who have been identified as underperfoming within their systemic guidelines. Participants volunteered from the membership of the Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA) to tell their stories. This case study provides them with voice. At the time of the interviews (September 2006 – April 2007) they were all employed as principals in primary or middle schools representing all Australian education systems (independent, Catholic and government). Two participants were employed by the independent system (1 in Queensland and 1 in New South Wales); one by Catholic education in New South Wales; one by the Northern Territory government ; one by the Victorian government; and 3 by the government in Queensland."

Click here to download her paper (286Kb pdf file).