Community Science Leaders: Lessons From an Elementary Principal Network

• In Event: 45.092 - MTCC Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: 45.092-6 - Teacher Professionalism, Sense-Making, and Classroom Instruction

Abstract

There is a need to better understand how principals make sense of science standards and policies in order to serve as science instructional leaders—advocating for and supporting science learning in their schools. There is minimal research that captures how practicing principals make sense of science policies, and the inter and intra-district relationship that support them as they serve as the instructional leaders in their schools. In this study, the researcher examines the experiences of principals in a high-needs/ low SES district. This study sheds light on the potential of what the researcher describes as a Science Community Leader (SCL). The researcher defines an SCL as one who strategically navigates and accesses his/her own network to inform decisions about science.

Author

• Stefanie L. Marshall, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities