Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between the leadership practices and behaviors of selected principals and their score on the Ventures for Excellence Administrator Interview. Methodology. The study used descriptive and correlational research. The sample included thirty-two elementary school principals who have been on the same site a minimum of three years, and eight randomly selected teachers who have worked with each of the principals a minimum of three years. The teachers completed the Leadership Practices Inventory evaluating the observed leadership practices and behaviors of their principal. The responses on the Leadership Practices Inventory were analyzed using measures of central tendency and frequency tables. Each principal was interviewed using the Ventures for Excellence Administrator Interview. These scores were analyzed through the use of frequency tables. The correlation between the principals' scores on the Leadership Practices Inventory and their scores on the Ventures for Excellence Administrator Interview was analyzed using the Chi-Square (χ2) Test for Independence and the Spearman Rho Correlation Coefficient (Spearman's ρ). Findings. The principals demonstrated a wide-range in the frequency of leadership practices and behaviors according to their teachers. The principals also demonstrated a wide-range of scores on the Ventures for Excellence Administrator Interview. There was a high degree of correlation between the frequency of leadership practices and behaviors that teachers reported observing, and what was predicted that the principal would demonstrate based on the results of the Ventures for Excellence Administrator lnterview. Conclusions. It is possible to predict the frequency of leadership practices and behaviors of a school principal based on the principal's score on the Ventures for Excellence Administrator Interview. Recommendations. The use of a structured interview, such as the Ventures for Excellence Administrator Interview, can assist districts when selecting a principal candidate. It can be used to predict which candidate will most likely demonstrate those practices and behaviors needed to be a successful principal.