Expanding Instructional Leadership: How Elementary School Principals in Israel Ensure the Right Teachers are in the Right Places

The available frameworks of instructional leadership do not include functions aimed to ensure that teachers are suited for their position, such as hiring appropriate teachers, placing teachers effectively, and firing ineffective teachers. This study explored how principals link their responsibility of ensuring that existing teachers are the right people for the job with their instructional leadership. Data was collected through interviews with 29 Israeli principals. Findings show that, unlike the available frameworks of instructional leadership, ensuring that the right teachers are on staff was perceived by principals as essential to their instructional leadership. Potential explanations for this gap are discussed.