Principals’ Socialization: Whose Responsibility is It?

Abstract

This conceptual article attempts to answer the question, who should be responsible for the socialization of principals? In reaction to the criticism targeting educational leadership programs in the United States, this article discusses how individuals moving into the leadership role, educational leadership preparation programs, and school systems engage in the socialization process. The literature on anticipatory, professional, and organizational socialization is reviewed and used as a framework to argue that the socialization of principals should indeed be shared by the individual, the leadership preparation program, and the school system. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.