Building Leadership Capacity at the District Level

• In Event: Roundtable Session 116
  In Roundtable Session: Who’s the Boss? Models of Governance and Professionalism

Abstract

This paper reports on one school district’s initiative intended to foster and build leadership capacity. This study examined the practices of five senior administrators and 15 principals, and the experiences of 43 vice-principals, some of whom were the focus of the initial phases of the initiative. Interview and survey questions were organized around the five headings from the Ontario Leadership Framework. Findings included: the culture of leadership had to be infused throughout; principals’ core values were tested; selection criteria for new teachers and administrators were refocused; and courageous conversations and communication were essential.

Authors

• Robert B. Macmillan, University of Manitoba

• Jennifer Tudhope, Thames Valley District School Board

• Jane Lashbrook-Sherman, Thames Valley District School Board

• Shelley Handley, Thames Valley District School Board

• Andrea Morrison, Thames Valley District School Board

• Michael Phillips, Thames Valley District School Board

• Patricia Tomico, Thames Valley Distrci School Board