Leading on the Edge: Principal Leadership in Chinese Turnaround Schools

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 12
  In Roundtable Session: Leadership and Collaboration for School Improvement

Abstract

This paper reports a study of how redeployed principals enacted their leadership in low performing Chinese schools to improve student learning. This paper explores how, when and why the principals enacted their leadership. The principals in this study were sampled purposively, and data were collected by means of a questionnaire survey to staff, semi-structured interviews with the principals and fifteen staff, in each school, documents and field notes.

The findings show that the turnaround schools developed in different phases within six years with their redeployed principals. Similarities and differences were identified across the three cases. Glocalization of the western concepts and perspectives to fit their own specific organisational contexts was reflected in the cases.

Author

• Cathy Ping Xie, Beijing Normal University