Document Type
Article
Abstract
The SC Administrator Working Conditions Survey (SCAWCS) was developed to systematically examine the work environments of school leaders. Grounded in the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, the survey conceptualizes administrator working conditions as a balance between the demands of the role and the resources available to support it. The JD-R framework emphasizes that high job demands, such as workload and accountability pressures, can contribute to stress and burnout when not sufficiently offset by job resources. In contrast, robust resources can buffer these demands and promote engagement, resilience, and long-term commitment to the profession. Designed by SC TEACHER, the SCAWCS measures 13 domains of working conditions, including seven job resources and six job demands, alongside two categories of key outcomes: job satisfaction and retention intentions. In the 2026 pilot administration, 53 of South Carolina’s 72 traditional school districts (74%) participated, along with four of the state’s six specialty schools. Of the 2,442 administrators invited to participate, 1,679 responded (69% response rate), providing insights from 828 schools. These survey findings offer a comprehensive picture of leadership working conditions in South Carolina to inform efforts to strengthen and sustain the state’s educator workforce.
Publication Info
SC TEACHER, 2026.
APA Citation
Starrett, A., Dmitrieva, S., & Cartiff, B. (2026, June). The 2026 SC Administrator Working Conditions Survey. SC TEACHER. sc-teacher.org/ewc-SCAWCS-report-june2026