Abstract
This research paper is about the role of the principal in enabling teacher leadership for pedagogical innovations and school improvement studied in two Innovative Designs for Enhancing Achievements in Schools (IDEAS) schools in Singapore and Australia over a 3-year period from 2005 to 2007. The research reported is based on the developing relationship between principals and teacher leaders as they collaboratively engage in a process of whole school improvement. Both case study schools used the IDEAS school improvement program which originates from the Leadership Research Institute, University of Southern Queensland. The cases trace the facilitation of the IDEAS process in each school and highlights the centrality of teacher leadership in bringing about change in school-wide pedagogy and a process of school re-culturing. It underlines the fact that principals need to support the enabling of leadership among teachers by giving them the space, time and responsibility to make decisions about curriculum work and ensuring that these are aligned with new organizational structures and processes. The paper discusses how the schools were different and yet similar in many ways between the two countries, Singapore and Australia, with regard to the nature of the enabling processes for organizational revitalization and school capacity building. It draws out some implications for school leadership and school improvement.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrews, D., Conway, J., Dawson, M., Lewis, M., McMaster, J., Morgan, A., & Starr, H. (2004). School revitalisation: The IDEAS way, ACEL monograph no. 34. Winmalee: Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL).
Andrews D., Crowther F. (2003) 3-Dimensional pedagogy—the image of 21st century teacher professionalism. In: Crowther F. (eds) Australian college year book 2003: Teachers as leaders in a knowledge society. Australian College of Educators, Deakin West, pp 95–111
Beare H. (2001) Creating the future school. Routledge-Falmer, London
Crowther, F., & Andrews, D. (2003). From conceptual frameworks to improved school practice: Exploring DETYA’s innovation and best practices project outcomes in Queensland schools. ARC SPIRT grant report to Australian Government Department of Education Science and Training, Canberra. www.dest.gov.au/highered/respub.htm. Accessed 5 July, 2005.
Crowther F., Andrews D., Dawson M., Lewis M. (2001a) IDEAS facilitation folder. Leadership Research Institute, University of Southern Queensland/Education Queensland, Queensland
Crowther F., Ferguson M., Hann L. (2009) Developing teacher leaders: How teacher leadership enhances school success. Corwin Press, CA
Crowther, F., Hann, L., & McMaster, J. (2000). Leadership for successful school innovation: Lessons from the innovation and best practice project (IBPP). A report from the innovation and best practice project (IBPP) to DETYA.
Crowther, F., Hann, L., & McMaster, J. (2001b). Leadership. In P. Cuttance (Ed.), School innovation: Pathway to the knowledge society. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia/Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs.
Crowther F., Kaagan S., Ferguson M., Hann L. (2002) Developing teacher leaders: How teacher leadership enhances school success. Corwin Press, CA
Department of Education, Queensland. (2000/2005). 2010 Strategic plan. Department of Education and Training, Queensland.
Frost D., Durrant J. (2003) Teacher leadership: Rationale, strategy and impact. School Leadership & Management 23(2): 173–186
Fullan M. (2000) The return of large-scale reform. Journal of Educational Change 2(1): 5–28
Hallinger, P., & Leithwood, K. (Eds.). (1998). Leading schools in a global era: A cultural perspective. Peabody Journal of Education, 73(2), 1–126.
Hargreaves D. (1999) The knowledge-creating school. British Journal of Educational Studies 47(2): 122–144
Harris A. (2003) Teacher leadership as distributed leadership: Heresy, fantasy or possibility?. School Leadership and Management 23(3): 313–324
Harris A., Day C., Hadfield M., Hopkins D., Hargreaves A., Chapman C. (2003) Effective leadership for school improvement. Routledge-Falmer, New York
Harris A., Muijs D. (2003) Teacher leadership and school improvement. Education Review 16(2): 39–42
Hopkins D. (2001) School improvement for real. Routledge-Falmer, London
Kalantzis M., Harvey A. (2002) Preparing educators for the twenty-first century. Professional Educator 1(1): 8–9
King B., Newmann F. (2001) Building school capacity through professional development: Conceptual and empirical considerations. International Journal of Educational Management 15(2): 86–93
Lambert L. (2003) Leadership redefined: An evocative context for teacher leadership. School Leadership & Management 23(4): 421–430
Louis K.S., Marks H. (1998) Does professional community affect the classroom? Teachers’ work and student experiences in restructuring schools. American Journal of Education 106(4): 532–575
Marks, H., & Louis, K. S. (1999). Teacher empowerment and capacity for organisational learning. Educational Administration Quarterly, 35(Supplement), 707–751.
McLaughlin M., Talbert J. (2007) Building professional learning communities in high schools: Challenges and promising practices. In: Stoll L., Louis K. S. (eds) Professional learning communities: Divergence, depth and dilemmas. Open University Press, New York
Ministry of Education, Singapore: (2000) School excellence model: A guide. School Appraisal Branch, Schools Division, Singapore
Mitchell, C., & Sackney, L. (2001). Building capacity for a learning community. Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy, (19). Retrieved 15 June 2009, from, http://www.umanitoba.ca/publications/cjeap/articles/mitchellandsackney.html.
Morgan G. (1997) Images of organization. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA
Mulford B. (2005) Quality evidence about leadership for organisational and student learning in schools. School Leadership and Management 25(4): 321–330
Mulford B., Silns H. (2003) Leadership for organizational learning and improved student outcomes. Cambridge Journal of Education 33(2): 175–195
Newmann F., King B., Youngs P. (2001) Professional development to build organisational capacity in low achieving schools: Promising strategies and future challenges. Centre on Organisation and Restructuring of Schools, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison
Newmann F., Wehlage G. (1995) Successful school restructuring: A report to the public and educators. Centre on Organisation and Restructuring of Schools, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison
Ng P. T. (2003) The Singapore school and the school excellence model. Educational Research for Policy and Practice 2(2): 27–39
Ng P. T. (2005) Innovation and enterprise in Singapore schools. Educational Research for Policy and Practice 3(1): 183–198
Ng P. T. (2008) Educational reform in Singapore: From quantity to quality. Educational Research for Policy and Practice 7(1): 5–15
Sarason S. (1990) The predictable failure of educational reform: Can we change course before it is too late?. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco
Schein E. (1992) Organisational culture and leadership. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco
Senge P. (1990) The fifth discipline fieldbook: The art and practice of the learning organisation. Doubleday, New York
Sharpe L., Gopinathan S. (2002) After effectiveness: New directions in the Singapore school system?. Journal of Education Policy 17(2): 151–166
Smyth J. (1995) What’s happening to teachers’ work in Australia?. Educational Review 47(2): 189–199
Walker, A., Dimmock, C. (eds) (2002) School leadership and administration: Adopting a cultural perspective. Routledge-Falmer, New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chew, J.O.A., Andrews, D. Enabling teachers to become pedagogical leaders: case studies of two IDEAS schools in Singapore and Australia. Educ Res Policy Prac 9, 59–74 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10671-010-9079-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10671-010-9079-0