Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify, using a Delphi technique, what actions experts recommend Inland Empire school systems should take to effectively attract qualified principals beginning in the year 2010. The study also asked these same experts to rate those recommended actions as to their importance and, finally, to rate those actions as to their likelihood of implementation. Methodology. A descriptive design known as the Delphi Technique was used to gather data regarding three research questions from a panel of 17 experts. The process consisted of three rounds. Upon completion of Round I, 30 proposed actions emerged, which were grouped into five themes. During Round II the experts rated the importance of those 30 proposed actions. From these 30 actions, the top 21 actions were used in Round III, in which the expert had to rate the likelihood of implementation of these proposed actions. Findings. Of the 21 proposed actions from Round III the top 11 were rated as "of importance" with "good to great agreement" by the experts. None of the actions that were rated from 12 to 21 showed a "great agreement" among the experts, nor were they rated higher than being "of moderate importance" by the experts. No actions were rated as "of great importance" and as "great likelihood." Conclusions. Actions in the themes "job security," "compensation," and "in district recruitment" were identified by the experts as part of the top five ranked suggested actions in the area of importance. Recommendations. That Inland Empire school districts use these top 11 suggested actions to attract qualified principals to curb the projected shortage of qualified principals in the near future. By doing this they may avoid the perfect storm imminent to other Inland Empire school districts that do not recognize the contributing elements currently unfolding regarding a shortage of qualified principals.