Teacher and Middle Leader Research: Considerations and Possibilities

Gurr, David

doi:10.3390/educsci14080875

Education Sciences

2024

DOI: 10.3390/educsci14080875

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Teacher and Middle Leader Research: Considerations and Possibilities

David Gurr

Abstract: This essay explores research on teacher and middle leadership. It begins by considering the definitions and the conceptual overlap between teacher and middle leaders and briefly considers the volume and sources of research information. Six areas in which trustworthy claims can be made about the roles are then explored: teacher and middle leader definitions, impact, interventions, leadership focus, identification, and supports/hindrances. The essay concludes by considering policy recommendations, practice recom… Show more

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Cited by 2 publications

References 48 publications

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Understanding Middle Leaders' Distributed Leadership Factors as Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Fostering Teacher Commitment to Change

Thien,

Chuah,

Low

2024

Euro J of Education

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This study aims to examine which middle leaders' distributed leadership factors (cohesive leadership team, participative decision‐making, leadership support and leadership supervision) are sufficient and to what degree these four factors are necessary for fostering high teacher commitment to change (TCTC). Data were gathered from 1018 Malaysian primary school teachers. The partial least squares analysis indicated positive relationships between the four middle leaders' distributed leadership factors and TCTC. The necessary condition analysis revealed that cohesive leadership team and participative decision‐making are necessary and sufficient conditions for fostering TCTC. While leadership support and leadership supervision were identified as necessary conditions, they were deemed less important. This study shifts the focus from principal‐centric distributed leadership to middle leaders' distributed leadership. This theoretical shift underscores the unique contributions of middle leaders' distributed leadership in driving TCTC in primary school settings by employing an expanded analytical approach.

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Understanding Middle Leaders' Distributed Leadership Factors as Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Fostering Teacher Commitment to Change

Thien,

Chuah,

Low

2024

Euro J of Education

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First Level Leadership in Schools: Evidence from Secondary Schools Across Australia

De Nobile

2024

Education Sciences

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This article presents the results of an investigation into the phenomenon of ‘first level leadership’ in schools. The current theorization of school leadership largely includes senior and middle leaders. Yet there is evidence in schools, as well as recent research, about the existence of ‘first level leaders’. Some scholars might argue that this equates to teacher leadership, but that term is often confounded with middle leadership. First level leadership includes the efforts of teachers who hold positions of responsibility, but experience smaller spans of influence than middle leaders. The study reported here represents the initial phase of a multi-phase research program aimed at clarifying who first-level leaders are and what they do. The aim of the present study was to identify evidence of first level leadership from role descriptions, explanations of governance and leadership structures. The official websites of 675 secondary schools from all sectors and states of Australia were investigated to identify potential first level leadership positions, resulting in evidence from 87 schools. Confirmation of these positions was achieved through descriptions of responsibilities and jurisdictional documents such as role descriptions. The positions included coaches, coordinators and assistant heads. The article concludes with implications for educational leadership theory as well as policy and practices relating to developing school leaders.

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Teacher and Middle Leader Research: Considerations and Possibilities

Cited by 2 publications

References 48 publications

Understanding Middle Leaders' Distributed Leadership Factors as Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Fostering Teacher Commitment to Change

Understanding Middle Leaders' Distributed Leadership Factors as Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Fostering Teacher Commitment to Change

First Level Leadership in Schools: Evidence from Secondary Schools Across Australia

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