The managerial capacity of physical education teachers – principals: The case of Greece

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to identify and compare the management skills that relate to school efficacy of Physical Education Teachers (PETs) who work as junior and senior high school principals. A total number of 580 teachers of 12 junior high schools and 12 senior high schools participated. The teachers rated their principals’ skills using the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale-PIMRS, after being adapted to the Greek reality. Independent samples t-test was used for data analysis. Results showed statistically significant differences between junior and senior high school principals in certain managerial skills. Specifically, senior high school teachers believe, more than their junior high school colleagues, that their principals demonstrate school management skills concerning a) parent involvement, b) professional development, and c) curriculum. Contrary to that, the two groups of teachers presented no significantly different perceptions of their principals’ skills on a) student progress and b) school climate factors. These findings could be used in improving school effectiveness as well as today’s and future school principals’ managerial capacity in different school level.