Principals’ Criteria for Hiring Teaching Applicants in Physical Education

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine criteria principals prioritize when hiring physical education teachers. From an initial list of 619 elementary and secondary principals in a county in a southwestern state, 202 completed a 5-point Likert scale survey that included items from a previously validated survey (Wiley, 2016). The highest rated desired criteria were: the ability to create a fun and stimulating environment for students; demonstrate enthusiasm for teaching; strong classroom management skills, and the ability to provide a positive role model. Criteria that were rated the lowest included gender of candidate, residence that is located close to the school, possession of an MA or other advanced education degree, and cumulative college GPA. No significant differences were found when responses were compared by gender of principal for the top 16 criteria, suggesting these criteria are both objective and pervasive. The results also indicate the most highly ranked hiring criteria for physical education are very similar to other subject areas.