This study was designed to analyze the hiring criteria of principals in Iowa to determine whether districts were seeking the characteristics of second-order change in their principals. Using content analysis, hiring criteria provided by districts were coded to identify those that described second-order change responsibilities per Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning's Balanced Leadership Framework. There was little congruence between the hiring criteria and the characteristics of second-order change. The results revealed that only 21% of the criteria were coded as second-order change, 46% of the districts did not use written criteria, and those hiring secondary principals were half as likely to include second-order change characteristics as those seeking elementary principals. The authors provide recommendations for districts and higher education as they seek school leaders who can initiate significant change.
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