Refusing Relevance: School Administrator Resistance to Offering Professional Development Addressing LGBTQ Issues in Schools

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabethe C. Payne ◽  
Melissa J. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Development Program ◽  
School Personnel ◽  
School Administrator ◽  
School Contexts ◽  
Bisexual And Transgender ◽  
Field Notes

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to provide insight to the multiple ways that school leaders resist, avoid, or block LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, queer, and questioning) professional development for their staff and, thus, resist the conversations around school responsibility to these students and families. Research Method: The data presented in this article include interviews and field notes drawn from evaluation studies of the Reduction of Stigma in Schools© professional development program and are related to a single emergent theme. Findings: School leaders who resisted LGBTQ professional development claimed such training was not relevant to their school contexts, the training would attract community backlash, the school board would not approve the training, or school personnel would not be interested in learning about LGBTQ students. Implications: The authors conclude that increasing LGBTQ content in educational leadership training is a necessary step for convincing school leadership that LGBTQ-competence is necessary for creating a positive school climate for all.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Motivational Practices in Public and Private Secondary Schools in Pakistan: A Case Study of Two Administrators

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-47
Author(s):  
Asif Khan
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Private School ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
School Administrator ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Different Dimensions

This empirical study investigated the efforts of two Pakistani school administrators in dealing with the issues related to teachers’ motivation. This study exclusively examined how the two administrators embedded in their practices different ways of increasing the productivity of their staff. The researcher used the following three lenses to examine the motivational behavior adopted by the school leaders: 1) degree of teachers’ empowerment; 2) nature of rewards and recognition to honor teachers; and 3) pattern of communication between administrators and school staff. The study maintained that the private school administrator, unlike his public school counterpart, had a more updated knowledge in the field of education due to his exposure to professional development programs. This knowledge, which gave him a better understanding of the link between the motivational level of the teachers and the teachers’ productivity, led him to initiate certain measures. Unfortunately, only a limited quantity of research explores different dimensions of school leadership in the educational context of Pakistan. Therefore, this study attempted to address related issues, such as the recruitment of school leaders and the availability of professional development opportunities.

scholarly journals School Leader Relationships

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
Kara Lasater
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
School Leader ◽  
Relationship Development ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Explicit Training ◽  
Meaningful Relationships ◽  
Difficult Situations

An important aspect of school leadership is relationship development, but developing meaningful relationships as a school leader is challenging. School leader relationships are challenged by diverse stakeholder groups, varied contexts, and difficult situations. The complex nature of school leader relationships necessitates explicit training for leaders on relational skills. The purpose of this paper is to provide professional development recommendations for school leaders regarding three aspects of relationships: rapport, trust, and communication. Specific ideas for school leaders regarding how to establish rapport, trust, and effective communication are discussed. Finally, the use of structured role-play is discussed as the recommended approach to professional development for school leader relationships.

Learning to Transform Through Interplay Between the Confucian and Western Cultural Heritages: A Case Study of School Leadership Development in Beijing, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haijun Kang ◽  
Qi Sun ◽  
Lei Lyu
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Leadership Practices ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Local School ◽  
School Leadership Development ◽  
School Leadership Practices ◽  
Beijing China

Taking a case study approach and utilizing Hoggan’s transformative learning (TL) typology and criteria as a framework, we examined the self-reported TL experiences of 12 local school leaders in Beijing, China. These local school leaders gained cross-cultural learning from a school leadership development program that was designed to prepare school leaders for education internationalization. Our data analysis indicated that these 12 local school leaders had experienced significant changes in their educational epistemology, self-identity, and school leadership practices. Further examining these changes at the intersection of the Confucian and Western cultural heritages, we discovered that these school leaders had developed an integrated approach to education, started to consciously reflect on what their social- and self-identities entail, and began the process of transitioning from conservative to appreciative school leadership practices.

scholarly journals Implementation of Character Values of Environmental Care in Geography Learning at SMA Negeri 1 Kinali

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 369
Author(s):  
Arnapis Jambak
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
School Environment ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Development Program ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Routine Activity ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
School Activities ◽  
Environmental Care ◽  
Regulatory Policies

This research aims to discuss and analyze how teachers and school leadership roles in implementing character values of environmental care in teaching geography to learners in SMA Negeri 1 Kinali. This study used a qualitative approach that aimed to describe the systematic, factual, and accurate information on the phenomenon in detail. Selection of the subject of research was conducted by the method of purposive sampling, where the School leaders, teachers, and learners with data collection through observation, interviews, and documentation based on the validity of the data with triangulation techniques and perseverance observation. In analyzing the data, the researcher used stages: data reduction, data presentation, and inference. The results of the study are as follows: 1) The school environment plays an important role in shaping the behavior of learners, 2) How teachers implement the character values in shaping the attitude of the environment care which was done by: (a) Integrating into the planning and implementation of learning geography through the preparation of syllabus, RPP and material by incorporating the values of characters in accordance with the demands of SK and KD, (b) organizing a routine activity held by the school, 3) the role of school leaders in the formation of the character values of learners with: (a) Development of school curriculum through the regulatory policies of the school and extra-curricular activities so as to establish the values of the expected character. (b) Development exemplary school leaders and teachers in motivating learners and cultural activities of the school, 4) How learners implement the values of character care about the environment through self-development program in schools and school activities related to the character values of environmental care, 5) Barriers to implement the characters values in SMA 1 Kinali due to school rules are not optimally running, so that the students' participation is still low in preserving the environment, lack of awareness of students to care about the environment both at school and at home, and yet optimal work together with the parents of students in the formation of character values for caring environment on the learner.

scholarly journals Conservative Perceptions for a Changing Reality. A Critical Look at the Professional Development of School Principals in Israel

2016 ◽  
pp. 517-533
Author(s):  
Mali Nets
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
School Improvement ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Development Program ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Future Thought ◽  
Mental Aspect

As a part of the worldwide trend, in Israel the issues of accountability in management, the school improvement, and the learners’ achievements are topics on the public agenda. In the attempt to address these challenges, Israel implemented a reform in the professional development of the principals, which was applied to the system with the establishment of the School Leadership Institute, Avnei Rosha (2007). The theoretical model of the professional development is based on the career stages approach,1 which originated in the research studies on the career circles of teachers2 and principals. These models examined characteristics of different stages in the professional life track of the teacher3 as well as the mental aspect of the principals’ perception of management throughout the career.4 The Israeli model adopted these theories as the basis for the professional development of principals and formed a comprehensive program of learning from the stage of the entry into the role to the stage of the retirement.5 The article will propose a critical look at the professional development program of the school principals from the third year in the role and onwards, on the background of the new challenges with which the Israeli educational system copes. The article will focus on the theoretical and practical aspects of the question of the professional development of principals, will review the influences of recent reforms on the professional development of principals from the third y ear i n t he position, will p resent t he i mmanent g aps of t he I sraeli p rogram a pplied to t hese principals, and will suggest issues for future thought.

scholarly journals Teachers’ Belief on the Benefit of Collaboration in Lesson Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madihah Khalid ◽  
Nor Azura Hj Abdullah ◽  
Abdulhameed Kamoludeen
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Study Data ◽  
School Administrator ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Teachers Beliefs ◽  
Negative Comments

Abstract: Lesson study is being actively implemented in many countries as one of the continuous professional development program for school teachers. Since collaboration is an important element of lesson study, it is deemed necessary to investigate teachers’ beliefs about collaboration in lesson study. Data were collected through both qualitative and quantitative methods, where teachers were surveyed via questionnaire, interviewed, observed and asked to keep a journal. Thirty-one teachers and a school administrator who oversee the teachers’ progress in the school were involved. The results showed that most teachers agree with the benefits of lesson study, such that it improved cooperation and collegiality. Other benefits include: lesson study provides a platform for sharing collaboratively; knowledge is enhanced in terms of content, pedagogy, student-centered instructions , and curricula – ability to design constructivist lessons. Negative comments were centered around time constraint and heavy workload – leading to absence from shceduled meetings. Overall, the effect of collaboration in lesson study has led to more improved teachers compared to other professional development approaches.

scholarly journals The Application Degree of Participative School Leaderships at Al-Ihsa Governorate and Its Correlation with Teachers’ Professional Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Fathi Mohammed Abu Nasser
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Participative Leadership ◽  
Arithmetic Means ◽  
School Year ◽  
Education Leaders ◽  
Total Process ◽  
Teachers Professional Development

Participative leadership is one of the most important human trends of school leadership and institutions of education. The study aimed to identify the degree of application of participative leadership by school leaders at Ihsa governorate, Saudi Arabia, and its correlation to teacher’s professional development in the light of some variables. The study sample comprised (241) education leaders from both sexes throughout the school year 2018/2019. To collect data, an important three-part instrument developed incorporating participative leadership and its correlation to teacher’s professional development. Cronbach coefficient of instrument validation was (0.97). In analyzing data, arithmetic means, standard deviations, one way ANOVA, and correlation coefficient were calculated. Results of the study showed that the degree of application of the total process was high. They also showed that there was a relation with statistical significance at the level (0.01) between participative leadership with its dimension and professional development. The results also showed that there were no differences with statistical significance in answers of sample members which might be attributed to study variables at the level (α=0.01). The study recommended intensifying training courses for school leaders with regard to participative leadership, in addition to, supporting and widening teachers’ participation in school leadership.

Principals’ views on continuing professional development programmes: Evidence from Malaysia

2021 ◽  
pp. 174114322198895
Author(s):  
Lokman Mohd Tahir ◽  
Mohammed Berhandden Musah ◽  
Mohd Fadzli Ali ◽  
Abdul Halim Abdullah ◽  
Mohd Hilmi Hamzah
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Leadership Development ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
School Principals ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Continuing Professional Development ◽  
Development Programme ◽  
Effective School ◽  
Knowledge And Skills

This study reports on the professional development and school leadership programmes requested by principals in Malaysian schools. A total of 557 principals provided feedback on their preferred school leadership and professional development programmes which they believed as essential to be effective school leaders. Based on their feedback, mentoring was named the most needed leadership development programme as it allowed access to the guidance, knowledge and skills of senior principals. As for school leadership courses mentioned by school principals, financial management was considered as most useful. The study concludes by recommending suggestions to improve principals’ professional development programmes in Malaysia.

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