Transcript Slide 1
LEADING FROM THE
MIDDLE
Wanda Snitch & Candice Ferey
GROWING
GREAT DEPUTIES
Educational leadership in the secondary DP role
Secondary Deputy Principals
‘Principals are interesting, deputies are not’*
Minimal research, little empirical, mostly descriptive,
small scale and anecdotal
Succession TO the DP role not a focus - Dean Fink
Transition from ‘middle’ to whole school role not a
focus
Preparation for educational leadership not a focus
Confirmed by own experience as DP and
professional learning co-ordinator
Themes in research
Little role definition or control; delegated ‘assigned,
expected and assumed tasks’*
Administrative and reactive duties: maintenance of
organisational stability, ‘daily operations chief’**
Little opportunity to undertake ‘educational leadership’
Satisfaction – heavily influenced by Principal and senior
leadership team
Imagery: custodian, crisis manager, neglected,
forgotten, invisible, and ‘flight steward rather than copilot’ *
Deputies as educational leaders
Interest in preparing deputy principals to be
educational leaders within the role and beyond
Requires understanding of ‘educational leadership’
Viviane
Robinson* - focus on student learning
What impacts on ability to operate in this way?
background, preparation, context
Need for educational leadership at all levels, not
just principal - OECD**
Other system approaches – Singapore
Growing Great Deputies – proposed research
DEC secondary deputy principals (>700)
Links with NSWSDPA
2 phases
Questionnaire
to all – large scale, quantitative
Follow up 4 case studies – qualitative
What are ‘enablers’?
Positive and future focus.
PhD thesis by publication – 6 papers
Contact details
Wanda Snitch
Insider Learning
0412 027 484
[email protected] or
[email protected]
INVESTIGATING THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
PRINCIPALS AND MIDDLE
MANAGEMENT IN
INDEPENDENT SECONDARY
SCHOOLS
NSW AUSTRALIA
Existing Research
Definition
Situated between Principal and Class Teachers in the hierarchy
Involving the management of a team of people
An overarching title that incorporates many positions (1)
Management of secondary school departments (2)
Need to organise staff and curriculum into areas of responsibility
Role
Hard to define role due to
Large scope of responsibilities (3)
Complex interactions (4)
Variance between schools (5)
Change in expectations from shift in purpose and responsibilities (6, 7)
Department
Administration
Whole School
Leadership
Existing Research
Importance in schools
Sustaining change (1)
Rising influence at whole school and department level (2)
Underutilised emerging leadership (3)
Distributed (4)
Transformational (5)
Impacts on effectiveness
(6)
Time
Curriculum changes
Professional Development
Lack of direction/vision from and communication between more
senior executive
Principals and Middle Management
Work together to develop whole school vision
Build effective relationships
Inclusive and distributive leadership
Alludes to positive interactions
(1, 2, 3)
(3, 4, 5, 6)
(7, 8)
Seems to be a gap in the research where particular
aspects of the relationship between Principals and
middle management are investigated for impact and
effectiveness in support the work and wellbeing of
middle managers and, in turn, school outcomes
Proposed research
To investigate the working relationship between Principals
and Middle Management so as to distinguish the aspects
that contribute to the effectiveness and job satisfaction of
those in Middle Management positions.
Combination of interview and focus group discussions to
explore dimensions and expectations of the PrincipalMiddle Management relationship.
Case Study approach for each participating school
Individual interview with Principal
Choice of individual interview or focus group with middle managers
Foundation research on which to build further
understandings and test initial findings of what the
significant aspects of the relationship are.
Some things to think about…
What is my understanding and expectations of the
different roles of Middle Management in my
school?
What expectations might my Middle Managers
have of me?
What do my middle managers think about their
leadership role in the school or department?
In what ways might I actively support, encourage
and utilise the leadership of my Middle Managers?
CONTACT DETAILS
Ms Candice Ferey
Coordinator Learning Enrichment 6-12
Santa Sabina College
97450140
[email protected]
[email protected]