Towards Reconceptualising Leadership: The Implications of the Revised New Zealand Curriculum for School Leaders

Interesting reading in lots of ways.  Always good to think beyond the given.  The reading had lots of words that I've heard from the current Principal - dispersive leadership, listening to student voice, student advocacy, and the like.

Which may go to in some ways explain where we are at in our school.  It is encouraging to share leadership, that we can all learn from each other.  Other people's perspectives are helpful to expand our own thinking and challenge preconceived ideas.  However, we all need to be open to change and be prepared to act upon the change.  Further to that, if we encourage dispersive leadership, then we need to not only listen to those above but also those with whom we have given the responsibility to.

Take the idea of using ICT in classrooms.  If we encourage a teacher to take risks in their classroom planning and their classroom programme as a leader but allow no changes in the course description or believe that the teacher is still the holder of all knowledge isn't really encouraging change.  (This statement requires more thought, as it is not quite right). This was presented to me years ago when the thought of integrating ICT into the classroom was the teacher presenting work via the use of PowerPoint covering all the content of the lesson.  Which in my eyes really was a computerised way of writing "things" on the board.  Another is the use of computers to publish work which was initially produced via pen and paper.  Whereas I see integrating ICT puts tools and a wide variety of options in front of students.  And I know I still have lots and lots to learn.  Encouraging students to become learners and experts at the same time.  This idea is always evolving - as it should.  We as learners do not always know what we don't know and how do we expect students to realise this if we do not reflect on this idea ourselves.

For myself, I have been through some of this dispersive leadership and had it taken away with no explanation that I can understand. I have learned that unless people want to learn/change and leadership supports the change then no real change occurs.  In saying that, I'm forever hopeful that real change and learning will happen...