Schools work to lessen looming principal shortage

ST. LOUIS -- As many principals become eligible for retirement, school districts throughout Missouri are working pre-emptively to ward off a shortage.

In the St. Louis Public School District, about 60 percent of principals at the 113 schools will be eligible to retire by 2004.

"This is a problem not only in the St. Louis area but across the nation," John Oldani, executive director of Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"The problem approaches a crisis in urban and rural areas."

Illinois, for example, reports nearly a third of the state's 4,100 school principals are expected to retire by 2005.

A survey by the Illinois Principals Association showed young educators, especially those with young families, were reluctant to become principals. Financial incentive is minimal, the survey showed, as gaps narrowed between the salaries of veteran teachers and administrators.

In August, the Missouri General Assembly signed a law authorizing temporary administrator certificates for licensed teachers.

Educators say principals play a key role in a school's success, and the job's demands move beyond being instructional leaders.

Principals manage finances, personnel and facilities, discipline students and communicate with the community.

"The job gets more difficult all the time," Oldani said.

Betty Blanchard has worked 35 years for St. Louis Public Schools and is eligible to retire from her post as principal at Mallinckrodt Elementary School.

"There are many hats to be worn," Blanchard said. "You deal not only with instruction, but managerial things and a different kind of discipline than we dealt with 10 years ago. All that makes for a fuller day."

Not ready to retire

But despite some tiring days, Blanchard is not ready to retire.

"There is always that student, that one bright star, who walks in and inspires me to keep pushing," she said.

Suburban school districts such as Kirkwood, Parkway and Rockwood are encouraging teachers and school leaders to train for administrative jobs.

As part of the district's plan to support new school leaders, Blanchard is mentoring a new principal at another elementary school.

Madye G. Henson, a former city School Board member, oversees the district's principal training program, which works to develop leaders through mentoring, internships, summer institutes and ongoing training.

To offer the temporary certificates under the new state law, districts must develop mentoring programs and monitor administrative candidates.

Certificates are valid for a year and can be renewed up to four times, if the person seeks a full administrative certificate and the requisite master's degree.