Teaching leadership: an examination of best practices for leadership educators

Abstract

This study explored the leadership perspectives of four school principals on creating a positive school culture and improving student outcomes. Four key themes emerged from the interviews: the importance of relationship building, focus on student learning, emphasis on professional development, and collaboration. The principals highlighted the significance of building strong relationships with staff and students as the foundation for creating a positive school culture. They emphasized the need for regular assessments to monitor student progress and creating a safe and engaging learning environment. The principals recognized the importance of ongoing professional development for themselves and their staff and believed that keeping up to date with new teaching methods and technologies was critical in providing students with the best possible education. Collaboration was also seen as essential, with the principals emphasizing the need to work collaboratively with staff, parents, and the wider community to achieve shared goals. Overall, the study suggests that effective school leadership requires a focus on building strong relationships, a commitment to student learning, ongoing professional development, and collaboration. These findings are consistent with previous research on effective school leadership, emphasizing the need for a collaborative and supportive school culture that prioritizes student learning and teacher development. The study has important implications for school leaders, highlighting the importance of relationship building, ongoing professional development, and collaboration in creating a positive school culture and improving student outcomes.