Culturally Competent Educational Leaders: Expanding Their Horizons With the “Study Australian Schools Experience”

• In Event: Advancing Equity: Transformations, Culture, and Leadership

Abstract

Innovative educational leadership preparation programs are incorporating international and global experiences in their programs (Hallinger and Leithwood, 1996; James-Ward, 2011). To improve educational leadership preparation and to explore internationalizing the educational leadership program, Auburn Universityfaculty and administrators joined forces to pilot the “Study Australian Schools Experience” in Sydney, Australia. The purpose of the pilot was to immerse school leaders from our university’s educational leadership program into cultures other than their own because 21st Century school leaders must be global problem solvers (Dimmock & Walker, 2005; Zhao, 2009). A conceptual framework, “Study Australian Schools Experience” curriculum and results are provided. Positive gains for the program, individual students and leadership faculty were made.

Authors

• Ellen H. Reames, Auburn University

• James S. Kaminsky, Auburn University

• Sherida Downer, Auburn University