Developing School Leaders' Instructional Leadership Through Reflection

• In Event: Using Reflection as a Tool for Instructional Improvement: From Postsecondary to the Classroom

Abstract

We examined how reflection helped the school leaders build their instructional leadership capacity. We collected the participants’ reflections through online discussions within virtual professional learning communities (VPLC) and online portfolios related to professional development (PD). The participants’ reflections indicated cycles of change evolving from reflection, unlocking the potential held in school leaders. Further analysis of the data revealed the emergence of major themes guiding school leaders’ transformation of their leadership, anchored by their professional learning. Our findings have implications for encouraging reflection among prospective school leaders to accelerate preparation of leaders for underserved schools.

Authors

• Roya Pashmforoosh, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Beverly J. Irby, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Rafael Lara-Alecio, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Fuhui Tong, Texas A&M University - College Station