The Role of Leadership for Departments as Professional Learning Communities and Teachers' Professional Development

• In Event: 42.080 - Instructional Leadership and Supervision in the Age of School Reform and Accountability

Abstract

Professional learning communities (PLCs) are considered as promising contexts for teachers’ professional development (PD). In secondary schools, departments are the most common form for organizing teaching. Considering this departmentalized structure, departments are seen as PLCs. This study explores departments’ performance as PLC and the relationship with teachers’ PD, and how leadership is related to departments’ performance as PLC. Based on survey data from 361 teachers in 67 departments, two high and two low performing PLC departments were selected for a comparative analysis. Data were collected from 21 interviews with teachers, school and departmental leaders in the departments. Results showed a difference in teachers’ PD in relation to departments’ performance as PLC, which in turn is related to school and departmental leadership.

Authors

• Jasja Valckx, Ghent University

• Geert Devos, Ghent University

• Ruben Vanderlinde, Ghent University