Journal Article

Principal Candidates’ Reflective Learning During a Full-Time Internship

Timothy A. Drake, Laura Ivey, and Lacey Seaton
December 2021 | Journal of Research on Leadership Education

This research article reports on a qualitative case study of 26 principal candidates during their full-time internship experience during the 2019–20 school year. By analyzing candidates’ weekly reflection logs, the authors found that candidates’ views of leadership changed as they engaged in and made sense of building relationships and delegating responsibilities. Experiences with managing student discipline, conducting teacher observations, and leading professional development also contributed to the candidates’ growth. The authors discuss the importance of reflective journaling in preparation programs and conclude with a call for further research in the area of principal internship experiences.