Challenging the Potential for Strengthening Leadership Distribution in a Context of Education Reform: Chilean Case Studies

• In Event: 29.022 - Principals' Practices in Different Contexts: Behavior, Organizational Change, and Sensemaking

Abstract

This paper explores patterns of leadership distribution associated with policy reforms that involve new expectations for school performance and leadership and new resources for primary schools in high poverty contexts in Santiago, Chile. The multi-site case study analysis is grounded in the literature on distributed leadership and instructional leadership. The journey to new forms of leadership distribution is not easy. Policies intended to create enabling conditions for changing forms of leadership are subject to the uncertainties of local implementation. Leadership distribution can be partial, focusing on compliance with use of artefacts and procedures and limited to the initial steps in achieving benefits. Changes in leadership are challenged in the absence of perceived as improvements over prior practices and results.

Authors

• Stephen E. Anderson, University of Toronto

• Javiera Marfan, Minsitry of Education Chile

• Magdalena Fernandez Hermosilla, OISE/University of Toronto