A seismic generational shift is taking place among school leaders in Chicago Public Schools. Following a wave of retirements in the past few years, almost two-thirds of principals are new to the job and have five years of experience or less, according to the Consortium on Chicago School Research’s biennial survey of principals. And now, almost 20 percent of principals is younger than 40, compared to less than 2 percent back in 1999.
This shift shows no signs of slowing down. The district will have to fill about 100 principal slots at the end of this year. The district’s pension incentive program is set to end in spring 2012, and another wave of retirements is likely; about half of principals left the job in 2006 and 2007, just before the last incentive expired. And a substantial percentage of newer principals who responded to the Consortium survey say they have no plans to stay in the job long term...