Dr Susan Lovett

University of Canterbury,

Marie Cameron

New Zealand Council for Educational Research, New Zealand

International Symposium on Leadership, Learning & Change, Griffith University, Brisbane, 13-14 September

2012

To lead or not to lead- that is the question

Why explore career trajectories?Worldwide concerns about teacher supply,

quality and high attrition rates; Bayer, Brinkkjaer, Plauborg & Rolls, 2009; Darling- Hammond, 2003; Day & Gu,

2010;

Need to know why teachers are leaving their jobs and consider what actions might change this trend;

Need to identify and nurture those with potential readiness for leadership roles;Rolls & Plauborg, 2009; Johnson, Birkeland, Donaldson, Kardos, Kauffman, Liu & Peske, 2004

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Teachers of Promise StudyLongitudinal study 57 primary & secondary

teachers in NZOpportunity to track

- career progressions; - working conditions; - satisfactions and challenges; and- conceptions and experiences of leadership.

QuestionsDo early career teachers view leadership as an

attractive option?How are others nurturing those with leadership

potential?

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Data collection4 interviews (2005 x 2, 2007, 2011)

3 surveys in the same years

2 workshops

Data for this presentation: on-line surveys (48 of original 57 responded and interviews with 20 of those teachers who were still teaching.

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Status of teachers in 2011At each data gathering point we established

changes in roles and moves in and out of the profession for travel, parenting and other careers.

In 2011 - 73% of teachers still teaching in NZ schools in full or part-time

capacity;- 38 of the teachers gave classroom teaching as best description of

their roles;- 28 teachers had changed schools since 2008 survey with 5 indicating

moves were for career advancement;- 12 teachers had moved for personal reasons eg relocating to a new

town;- 10 teachers had changed because not satisfied with their school’s

leadership & management;- 6 teachers moved because of unsatisfactory working conditions;- 3 teachers wanted less challenging students to teach.

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Six typical reasons for remaining in teaching jobsStimulation of continually learning new things;Expanded roles supporting colleagues;

Being able to work alongside teachers and mentor them. My liaison with the university for student teachers is also rewarding (Robert, 30-39 assistant principal, middle school)

Enjoyment of teaching subject;Encouragement to be innovative;Collegial cultures;Member of an effective team.

I am supported at all levels and encouraged to lead others with their learning (Tan, 30-39, primary)

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Professional supported for rolesA management unit or release time was

generally the only form of support provided

Little sign of specific mentoring for expanded roles

14 teachers could get general advice when needed

14 teachers gained support due to own professional reading or talking to colleagues with similar responsibilities

5 teachers received significant mentoring for leadership roles

Primary teachers most likely to have received formal mentoring , usually from their principals

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Future career intentions (1)Seeking variety;30% increasing leadership responsibilities;

I used to have ambitions to eventually seek a senior leadership role, at AP or DP level. However as my career has progressed that desire has died in the face of 1) a belief that I’m of greater value to the education system doing what I’m already doing, 2) a crisis of confidence that I could actually ever undertake such roles, and 3) a realisation that it’s not what you know. It’s who you know if one wishes to ‘get on’ (Steven, 30-39 HOD secondary)

54% in-school coach or curriculum leader;30% contemplating government educational work;18% considering private educational work;38% considering leaving teaching for non-educational

career.

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Future intentions (2)Move into leadership seen as leaving the classroom

behindI can tell you now that Assistant Principal, senior leadership doesn’t appeal to me. I’ve had a couple of opportunities and I’ve just said, no I’ve done with management. I got into teaching because I love working with kids and I can see myself in the next couple of years stepping straight back from where I am at the moment and saying I don’t want to be in middle management anymore (Otautahi, secondary, later entrant into teaching)

- Satisfiers from direct involvement with students as class teacher and extra-curricular involvement;

- Management roles seen as diversion from real purpose;

- Performed roles out of loyalty to school, not about interest or challenge;

- Drawing on transferable skills from previous career in business.

Those who were appreciated were more likely to put their hands up for expanded roles

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Negative conceptions of leadership (1)Whether teachers stay or leave for alternative

careers is often determined from the way they observe leadership enacted around them

Disagreeing with school policiesSteven (Secondary HOD) posed two dilemmas

What do you do if intellectually and professionally you disagree with it [school decisions] and you think it is the wrong path?

Could I stand up as a leader and be part of that?

His response was to retreat to what’s happening within the four walls of his classroom.

When a principal prioritises promotional activities at the expense of curriculum development (Degz,secondary)

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Negative conceptions of leadership (2)School’s leadership “hierarchical and autocratic”

and “philosophically different”Jane’s experience prior to staff meeting with associate principal saying: You need to tell people… I want you to give them planning formats. .. No they’re not far on enough in their understanding of education to cope with that… It’s a very nice idea but no you can’t, and this is how you have to do it. You have to give them deadlines and you’ll have to go in and do observations and if they aren’t doing this then you have to basically make them

Kate (primary) had worked with two principals who she described as being “wrapped up in the political, mandatory things” rather than driven by the best interests of children

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Positive conceptions of leadershipPrincipals who made the link between leadership

and learning explicit: - sharing research findings with staff;

- encouraging staff to extend their pedagogical horizons;

Ruby’s (secondary) own conception of leadership was not one of solving other people’s problems but

… leadership through practice and leadership through learning rather than leadership through directing… that’s been a challenge, because sometimes it is a lot easier just to tell people what to do.

Specialist classroom teacher role was about having dialogue about what was happening in classrooms as learners rather than monitoring or appraising roles

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Academic leadership learningRecognising the value of study

Ruby used postgraduate study as a benchmark and way to extend her repertoires

It’s been a real eye opener and made me realise that teaching is a continually moving, challenging and changing occupation

Study involving a deep exploration of teacher learning strategies, particularly in the areas of coaching and mentoring

One thing that came out of that [study] was the value of listening and using questioning effectively. Being an active listener is much more challenging than I appreciated before and I think now I’m much better at.

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Expectation of further learning opportunities to support extended rolesLearning about leadership from curriculum leadership

responsibilities in Ministry of Education contractsLeading a team of six established teachers with little

support to do so (Inga, primary)Needing to move to another school to improve practice

and take on leadership rolesKate (primary) took 2 years at new school before winning a literacy leadership role.

In order to make a real difference in children’s lives I feel I need to be part of leadership

I appreciate the importance of professional dialogue about classroom practice.

I can model literacy practices to colleagues and by doing so my expertise is recognised

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Wanting leadership roles (1)Broadening experience by taking up long term

relieving positions in a range of schools to advance career

(Ross, primary)- Enrolling in postgraduate studies in educational leadership;

- Opting out when not appointed as principal;

- Reconsidering work-life balance when became a father;

- More flexibility with teaching related role in a numeracy coaching franchise

Relentless nature of leadership in a rural school where there was little, if any, support and an untenable workload as a teaching principal. All aspects of the job were new and challenging with a change of teaching level and a tough group of children

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Advancing careersTan(primary) had worked in well led schools

- Her principal had told her she needed to know all levels of teaching in order to support teachers effectively;

- Reluctant to keep changing class levels but later realised it was a turning point;

- Strong staff support through professional learning communities.

The first few years of teaching are the most crucial as without adequate support good teachers just leave

Gary(intermediate) head hunted for advancement in third year as tutor with initial teacher education provider

- now senior leadership role as head of middle school

Learning on the job. It’s deep end stuff. - three years into the job he is still dependent on helpful colleagues

within and beyond school as main source of learning

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Learning on the jobGary: I’ve always been good at thinking on my feet and responding

creatively and problem solving … I did not have the bank of and wealth of experience and the frameworks to refer back to and that could have helped me a lot more.

No systematic support for leadership work; Only as good as the professional learning he can draw on from

previous professional development eg conference on formative assessment and working alongside another professional developer

Not modelling own learning enough to add value to others

Jack: Our headmaster is very good at taking the time to talk over specific incidents and how you might deal with them… Here’s what you might do when you’re in my shoes, sitting at my desk down the track.

Collegial networks with others in similar roles (AP/DP conferences and meetings each term)

Leadership as pastoral care of staff and students at expense of pedagogical leadership

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We encountered teachersWith ambitionWhose potential was recognised by othersLeft to their own devicesReacting to others’ agendas rather than

their ownWho had lost earlier ambitionNot attracted to leadershipDisadvantaged because of workplace

cultures

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Employing schools – build and retain capacity and capability to mentor staff at all levelsQ: Mentor skill learning and support? Adult and teacher learning theories evident in practiceProfessional Associations – networking, learning agendas from membersQ: Frequency? Funding?Ministry of Education – Career long leadership learning and support programmesQ: Cost? Mandatory or optional for particular leadership roles

Universities – qualification programmes in educational leadership

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To lead or not to lead. Who can help the leadership crisis?

Individuals aspiring to leadershipAnnual career planning support from school

management;Financial incentive to engage in formal leadership

learning;Encouragement to join professional associations as

additional learning networks;Structured on-the-job mentoring for leadership roles;Access to leadership libraries and web links for

personal studyChallenges: Knowing how to identify personal learning needs and

how best to address them.

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