Decolonizing the "Big Tent" and "Quilt" of the Knowledge Base of School Leadership

• In Event: Park Central Roundtable Session 10
  In Roundtable Session: Perceptions of Effective and Ethical Leadership From an International Perspective

Abstract

The role that school leaders play in supporting student achievement is well-recognized. However, the knowledge base that underlies school leadership preparation remains anchored in Western, Eurocentric philosophies and values. This knowledge base has failed to support Indigenous students and other students who come from socio-historically disadvantaged groups. This paper reports on a study that used a critical discourse analysis approach within a decolonial research frame to examine a specific set of guidelines for school leadership certification in a Canadian province with a growing Indigenous population. It provides insights into how the knowledge base of school leadership can be developed to better reflect a dynamic two-way relationship between Indigenous and Eurocentric knowledges and better support the preparation of school leaders.

Authors

• Jerome A. Cranston, University of Regina

• Rina Bright, University of Manitoba