Hong Kong Principals’ Identities in A Highly Dynamic Sociopolitical Landscape: A Narrative Study

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 7:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Leadership Orientation Cross Diverse Contexts

Abstract

This study employs a narrative inquiry approach to collect and analyze data from 12 Hong Kong principals who served during different historical phases, exploring how they construct and reconstruct their identities over time. The analysis reveals three identity types among the participants, each dominant in different historical phases: (a) disseminators of Hong Kong’s advanced educational experience, (b) change agents supporting educational development of Mainland schools, and (c) learners of Mainland education. These findings contribute to the international discourse on principal identity by offering context-rich insights into how macro-level sociopolitical shifts influence school leadership at the individual level.

Authors

• Miao Liu, Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Haiyan Qian, Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Yingying Huang, Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Jiachen LIU, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Qin Zhang, Chinese University of Hong Kong