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Abstract
This study is designed to understand how principals perceive the common stressors associated with leading an educational enterprise and propose strategies for relief from job-related stressors. As such, the same survey results from principals in 2009 and 2012 are analyzed. The results indicated increases in the perceived state of stress with regard to personal stress and factors that have been associated with new legislative demands on principals. To that end, the authors identified sources of renewal for principals experiencing workplace stress that include mindfulness practice to help school leaders thrive at work.
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Author Biographies
Barbara A. Klocko is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI and is a former elementary school principal. Her research interests include worklife balance for school administrators, resilience, and development of scholar practitioners.
Caryn M. Wells is an Associate Professor in the Department of Organizational Leadership at Oakland University in Rochester, MI and is a former high school principal. Her research interests include stress reduction for leaders, mindfulness and mindful self-compassion, leadership and resilience.
