The Nature of "New" Swedish Principals' Professional Identity

• In Event: Leadership in the Professions

Abstract

This paper is part of a longitudinal study of the effects of the Swedish National School Leadership Training Program. The aim is to explore 12 principals’ professional identity understanding in the beginning of the 3-year part-time program. Parallel they work as principals in shifting local school and organizational contexts. Consequently their socialization processes and professional role identity constructions have begun prior to the program. The core of identity is the narrative, the story told through a reflexive process (Giddens, 1991). Therefor life history based interviews were used to examine their professional identities. The identified variety in professional identities reflect individuals’ educational background and experience besides different local contextual prerequisites.

Authors

• Monika Tornsen, Umea University

• Pia Skott, Uppsala University