scholarly journals Principal’s Coalition Building and Personal Traits Brings Success to a Struggling School in Malaysia

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Noman ◽  
Rosna Hashim ◽  
Sarimah Shaik-Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Coalition Building ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Personal Traits ◽  
Core Practices ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Successful School ◽  
Successful Principals

This paper presents findings from a single site case study of a school in a rural part of Malaysia. Based on data collected through semi-structured interviews of the principal, teachers, students and parents, and observations, document scanning and field notes, the study attempts to identify the context under which the school operates, the core practices of the school principal and the enactment of these core practices. The data analysis was carried out through data reduction resulting in initial themes which were further refined several times until consensus was achieved. The themes were then discussed under the light of theories resulting in the final categories. The findings reveal that personal traits of the principal and her strength of building strong coalitions enabled her to successfully meet her contextual challenges. In conclusion, we argue that leadership practices are multidimensional and although successful principals draw from the similar repertoire of core practices, they enact these core practices in response to their own unique contexts to bring success. The findings would provide important insights for principals and future researchers who might be interested in conducting similar studies to enrich the successful school leadership literature from Malaysian context.

scholarly journals Successful Leadership Practice in School

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 119-131
Author(s):  
Kamal Prasad Koirala
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Leadership Practices ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Leadership Practice ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Successful Leadership ◽  
Positive Work Environment ◽  
Successful School ◽  
Positive Work

This paper mainly focuses on successful leadership practices in secondary school. It aims to identify the recent models and theories of successful leadership practice in schools, and explore the experience of school principal regarding successful school leadership in the Nepalese context. A qualitative study was carried out in Gorkha district for the collection of data. A successful head teacher was selected for in-depth interview to explore the perception and experience about successful practice of school leadership. The findings of the study reveal that strong interpersonal skills, people-centered leadership, clear communication of vision and goal, focus on academic achievement, co-curricular activities, transparency, creating a positive work environment, knowledge of pedagogical contents, and cooperation and collaboration with various stakeholders are the vital constituents of successful leadership practices.

“We Don’t Got Time for Grumbling”: Toward an Ethic of Radical Care in Urban School Leadership

2020 ◽  
pp. 0013161X2092589
Author(s):  
Rosa L. Rivera-McCutchen
Keyword(s):  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Black Male ◽  
Urban School ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Effective School ◽  
Urban School Leadership ◽  
Effective School Leadership ◽  
Document Review

Purpose: This article presents a case study of a successful Black male public urban school principal, offering a counterstory to discourses of failure in urban schools. I build on scholars’ work in critical caring, the Black principalship, and radical hope to call for an expansion of narrow frameworks of effective school leadership to include an ethic of radical care within urban school leadership. Method: This study represents a counterstory in the tradition of critical race theory, centering the voice and perspectives of a Black male urban school principal. Using ethnographic research methods, this case study was based on prolonged and embedded engagement in the field including observations, informal and formal interviews, and document review. Data were collected and analyzed over a 2-year period. Findings: Five components of effective school leadership emerged from analysis of the data that, taken together, can be described as a radical care framework. These components include the folowing: (a) adopting an antiracist, social just stance; (b) cultivating authentic relationships; (c) believing in students’ and teachers’ capacity for growth and excellence; (d) strategically navigating the sociopolitical and policy climate; and (e) embracing a spirit of radical hope. Conclusion: In addition to highlighting the power of counterstories in educational leadership research, this study reinforces the critical need for leadership preparation that is grounded in antiracism and social justice, and comprises all aspects of an ethic of radical care. Furthermore, the study points to the need for targeted recruitment of Black and Latinx school leaders, particularly in urban contexts.

Intergenerational Dynamics in Teenage Alcohol use

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Hulvej Jørgensen ◽  
Tine Curtis
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Ethnographic Case Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Friendship Groups ◽  
Ethnographic Fieldwork ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
N 93 ◽  
And Control

Aim The paper examines teenage alcohol use from an intergenerational perspective through an ethnographic case study of interaction between teenagers and adults. Methods Two periods of ethnographic fieldwork were conducted in a rural Danish community of approximately 6000 inhabitants. The fieldwork included 50 days of participant observation among 13–16-year-olds (n=93) as well as semi-structured interviews with small self-selected friendship groups. The present paper presents an analysis of field notes from a night of participant observation that is used as an emblematic example of informants' alcohol use and their interaction with adults. Theoretically, the paper adopts French philosopher Michel de Certeau's conceptual framework for understanding the practice of everyday life, in particular his distinction between strategic and tactical action. Results Two scenarios are described and taken to represent two different adult approaches to teenage drinking. In Scenario I, adults accept a group of teenagers' drinking in the home, and in Scenario II adults create an alcohol-free space which they guard against the intrusion of intoxicated teenagers. In both cases, however, adults use their intergenerational position in order to strategically contain teenage drinking. Meanwhile, teenagers act tactically by adjusting their alcohol use in time and space. Further, the use of alcohol marks a shift in the interaction between adults and teenagers in so far as it enables teenagers to create and control a place of their own and hence signal their independence from adults. Conclusion The paper points to the creative, tactical agency of teenagers in response to adult strategies. It is illustrated how teenage alcohol use becomes a transformative factor for adult–teenager relationships, and in particular how teenagers rework intergenerational power differences by taking on drinking.

Successful school leadership for social justice in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Moral Santaella
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Leadership Identity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership For Social Justice ◽  
School Principalship ◽  
Successful School ◽  
Successful Principals

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to present the results obtained from the investigations that have been carried out within the International Successful School Principalship Project (ISSPP) project in the Spanish for social justice.Design/methodology/approachTwelve case studies have been carried out within the three lines of research proposed by ISSPP: successful principals, underperforming principals and principal leadership identity. All but one school were in challenging contexts. The methodological approach followed is based on multiple perspective case studies using a mixture of qualitative methods (interviews, focus groups and observations).FindingsResults show that successful principals not only believe in social justice through simple empathy with the concept of social justice, but also use strategies that combine transformational and instructional leadership processes and manage to reverse the bad situation of their disadvantaged schools, seeking excellence from equity. The leadership identity of successful principals is characterized to look to the future with hope, adopting a realistic utopian attitude to interpret their surrounding reality.Originality/valueFrom the case studies carried out, valuable information is obtained, which helps to understand the possibilities of implementing the ISSPP successful school leadership model in heterogeneous and disadvantaged context for equity and social justice.

Challenges in distributed leadership: evidence from the perspective of headteachers

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 848-863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lokman Mohd Tahir ◽  
Sui Liang Lee ◽  
Mohammed Borhandden Musah ◽  
Hadijah Jaffri ◽  
Mohd Nihra Haruzuan Mohamad Said ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
Distributed Leadership ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Middle Layer ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the issues and challenges faced by headteachers in practicing the suggested distributed leadership (DL) approach in three primary schools to their middle layer leaders. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed a case study design and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. A total of three headteachers were interviewed in examining and exploring challenges within the DL practices. The transcripts from the semi-structured interviews formed the basis of the findings. Findings – The findings suggest that senior teachers lack confidence in making decisions and rely on the consent from headteachers even though they are empowered to make their own decisions. Another significant issue faced by headteachers when distributing their leadership is the ability, expertise, experience, and willingness of teachers to hold leadership roles and responsibilities. Originality/value – The results are important since there have been few empirical studies on the issues and challenges faced by headteachers in practising DL approach in primary schools in the context of Malaysia. This initiative sidelines the traditional school leadership approach which emphasises on the accountability of headteachers as the sole school leader.

Successful school leadership: case studies of four Singapore primary schools

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Loke Heng Wang ◽  
David Gurr ◽  
Lawrie Drysdale
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Structures ◽  
Asian Context ◽  
School Principalship ◽  
Successful School

Purpose This paper explores the characteristics and practices of principals in four successful Singapore primary schools. Design/methodology/approach Multiple perspective case studies were used which included semi-structured interviews with the principal, teaching and non-teaching staff, students, parents and school board members in each school. Findings The principals were found to have contributed significantly to the success of their schools. Their leadership was underpinned by their personal qualities, beliefs and values, which guided their practices. The four principals were highly successful in improving school capacity through redesigning school structures, particularly those that facilitate improvement in the work of teachers. They enhanced the professional capacity of the teaching and non-teaching staff through professional development programmes and the development of future leaders. The principals also established meaningful partnerships with stakeholders inside and outside the school community. Each of the principals described how their leadership was built upon the legacy of previous principals at their schools. Originality/value As part of a larger project, the International Successful School Principalship Project (ISSPP), this research adds an important Asian context to the literature on successful school leadership. A 6E model - Educate, Envision, Energize, Engage, Enable and Embrace - was developed to describe how principals led their schools to achieve educational excellence.

Performing and challenging gendered walls in leadership spaces in single sex schools: Lessons from a male-led girls’ basic school in Ghana

2021 ◽  
pp. 174114322199869
Author(s):  
Raymond Chegedua Tangonyire
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
Leadership Preparation ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Leadership Practice ◽  
Gender Inequity ◽  
Single Sex ◽  
Leadership Competence ◽  
Girls School

Women and men are capable of effectively discharging school leadership roles. However, in Ghana, people are socialised to expect females to lead girls’ schools and vice versa. Appointing a female or male to lead a single sex school that is opposite to their gender elicits gender stereotyping, protests and exclusion. While researchers have explored these dynamics in co-educational basic schools, they have not extended them to single sex schools. This case study investigated how the leadership practice of a male-led girls’ school in the Central Region of Ghana has challenged gendered walls. The study engaged 23 multiple stakeholders and gathered data through semi-structured interviews, observations and document analysis. Intra- and cross-case analyses of data revealed that loyalty to gender walls in single sex schools reflects the desire to respect and maintain the tradition of female headteachers in girls’ schools and male headteachers in boys’ schools. Overall, Ghana is still a traditional and patriarchal society that is characterised by gender inequity in leadership spaces. However, men and women who exhibit professional integrity and leadership competence could convert critics to supporters in a range of school settings. The Ghana Education Service should provide leadership preparation for practitioners to improve their leadership competence.

scholarly journals SCHOOL LEADERSHIP FROM THE OPINION OF HIGHER EDUCATION TEACHERS

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 40-47
Author(s):  
Rubi Surema Peniche ◽  
Cristóbal Crescencio Ramón ◽  
Norma Graciella Heredia
Keyword(s):  
Educational Leadership ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
School Organization ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
School Leader ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Long Period ◽  
Southeast Mexico

Educational leadership has been studied over a long period of time; It has determined characteristics, models, strategies to develop and implement an appropriate leadership; The profits of an organization have been guaranteed if a leadership is properly developed, however, the educational leadership is not deepened as broad with a more naturalistic view and seen from the opinion of teachers. A study was conducted under the qualitative approach, specifically a case study at a university in southeast Mexico. Semi-structured interviews, focus groups, observations and content analysis were used. In this study aims to establish the opinions that teachers have about what should be a school leader, as well as their feelings in the daily work. It seems that teachers feel that humility and good treatment, as well as awareness towards others makes a leader successful and accepted in a school organization.

scholarly journals Crenças sobre a habilidade de fala dos aprendizes da língua japonesa como LE (Língua Estrangeira) em um curso universitário: uma analise da metodologia de ensino

1969 ◽  
pp. 77-100
Author(s):  
Jaqueline M. Fukushi ◽  
Yuki Mukai
Keyword(s):  
Direct Method ◽  
Classroom Observation ◽  
Federal District ◽  
Public University ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Language And Literature ◽  
Audio Recordings ◽  
Oral Expression ◽  
Field Notes

In this paper we investigate a methodology used in Japanese Oral Expression 1 classes (intermediate levei) of a public university and the professor’s and students’ beliefs in relation to the methodology regarding the speaking ability. The aim of this research is to investigate and systematize (1) approaches，methods and techniques used by the professor and her beliefs conceming them and (2) students’ beliefs regarding the methodology used by the professor，and their speaking ability. This research is a qualitative approach and its nature is a case study. Our investigation was conducted in a Japanese Language and Literature course of a public university of Federal District. The participants were a professor and seven students of Oral Expression 1 classes. The data was collected by means of mix questionnaires, classroom observation with field notes，audio recordings of lectures and semi-structured interviews. The results suggest that the Japanese Oral Expression 1 professor’ belief is related to the grammar-translation approach，but in reality，she uses the direct method and communicative approach in the classroom. For students of this research，speaking is the most important language skill and also the most difficult one. We also found out that students are dissatisfied with their speaking ability.

scholarly journals Instructional Leadership Practices of Principals at Public Elementary Schools in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Dania ◽  
Dwi Esti Andriani
Keyword(s):  
Student Achievement ◽  
Elementary Schools ◽  
Instructional Leadership ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Leadership Practices ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Student Parents ◽  
Public Elementary Schools

For more than thirty years, instructional leadership has been considered an effective school leadership model for improving student achievement. This study aimed to investigate the instructional leadership practices of Indonesian school principals and the obstacles that they face. In this study, the data were collected through semi-structured interviews with three principals of public elementary schools located in Bandung. An audit trail and member checks were applied to ensure the quality of the collected data. The results showed that the three principals shared the instructional leadership role, particularly in performing supervision responsibilities. Despite this practice, the principals found it difficult to perform instructional leadership due to time contraints. Also, they lacked support from student parents, which made it difficult to improve student achievement. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that the instructional leadership of principals should involve parents more in student learning. Keywords: school principal, principals’ leadership, instructional leadership

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