ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ...

for school administrators who avoid “interpersonal or political problems but not for raising
academic achievement” (Keller, 1998, p. 7). That is to say that the most important job of the
principal is to work well with others--if simply for the sake of avoiding adverse employment
actions. Improved student achievement is not of paramount importance in determining adverse
employment actions. Davis’ (1998) study revealed that 58% of 99 California superintendents felt
that inadequacies in regard to interpersonal and/or communication skills were the most common
reasons for school administrators losing their positions voluntarily or involuntarily. This finding
is very telling because there are many pressures on the school administrator that complicate and
muddle the performance of duties (Catchings-Owens, 2000; Harris, 2011; Lortie, 2009). Despite
these difficult and pressure oriented tasks, it is simple--yet immensely difficult--people skills that
are the root of adverse employment actions.
In an effort to test Davis’ findings, Matthews (2002) replicated his study in Tennessee.
While being far less extensive in her presentation, Matthews’ findings were remarkably similar.
Using her Likert-type scale survey, with 1 representing little impact to 3 being high impact, the
principal deficiency rated as having the highest impact on school administrators losing their job
was “Works cooperatively with faculty and staff” (p. 40). Like Davis’ findings, Matthews’
research highlighted the fact that people skills, or the lack thereof, is more likely to bring about
adverse employment actions for a school administrator than failing to improve standardized test
scores. That is not to say that those factors are any less important, but that they do not create as
much employment rancor.
Further evidence of Davis’ (1998) and Matthews’ (2002) findings can be seen in two
studies written prior to their research. In a review of Stillman vs. Stevens, Menacker (1990)
explains that Stevens, a Chicago school principal, was accused of being a racist along with a
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