Superintendents’ Perceptions about Social Distance,Succession,and “Sunset” Provisions for Asian,Latino,and Native American Candidates Seeking Building-Level Administrator Positions 1

Abstract

Research addressing the attraction and selection of individuals for administrator positions is encapsulated in a structural model that depicts different phases of the employee procurement process. Within the present study, attention is devoted to the prescreening stage of the selection process, and screening decisions of superintendents are examined for applicants varying in national origin (Asian, Latino, or Native American), chronological age (29 years old, 49 years old, or control condition), and level of administrator position sought (assistant high school principals or high school principal). Screening decisions of superintendents are cast into a 3 × 3 x 2 factorial design and a MANOVA indicates a significant interaction effect for national origin by focal positional. This finding is interpreted from a social distance perspective and alternative explanations are provided. Results suggest that only certain groups should follow the succession pattern and that a sunset provision fails to exist for these particular groups of job candidates.

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