Key Actors as Leaders in Knowledge-Brokering Processes for Sustainable School Improvement With Professional Learning Communities

• In Event: Shared Leadership as a Lever for Change

Abstract

Realizing sustainable school improvement with professional learning communities (PLC) is challenging. Knowledge brokerage (KB) is key in sustainable school improvement. Key actors in this KB process can influence the role of school improvement and the PLC intervention. However, research into sustainability, KB, and key actors is scarce. Through social network questionnaires, observations and interviews, we identified key actors in the KB process in five secondary schools that realized sustainable school improvement. Additionally, we found what knowledge they brokered and what activities they used to do so. The results support schools in building the KB capacity necessary to realize sustainable school improvement.

Authors

• Elske van den Boom-Muilenburg, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht

• Alan J. Daly, University of California - San Diego

• Cindy Louise Poortman, University of Twente

• Kim Schildkamp, Universiteit Twente

• Siebrich de Vries

• Klaas Van Veen, University of Groningen

• Joelle Rodway, Memorial University of Newfoundland