Silent Leaders: An Overview of High School Department Chairs Throughout the Past Century

• In Event: Exploring Teacher Leadership

Abstract

Leading researchers in educational leadership describe the positive influence of leadership when the leadership is distributed among multiple agents. Specifically, research supports that the high school department chair is in a very unique position; sandwiched between the administration and teachers, department chairs can have a major influence over teachers. However, research on the role is severely limited in comparison to other leadership roles, such as principals and assistant principals. Yet, the number of department chairs far exceeds the number of principals and assistant principals combined, making department chairs the most prevalent formal leadership role within secondary schools. This paper provides an overview of the limited literature on the role of the high school department chair over the past century.

Author

• Rachel R. Harari, Teachers College, Columbia University
  Presenting Author