Leadership perspectives among high school principals in Jamaica: implications for school leadership development and policy

Abstract

ABSTRACT School leadership is an important factor in student achievement and learning outcomes and has garnered the attention of policymakers globally. And while the field is growing there is not enough knowledge generation from school leaders in emerging economies. This article examines school leadership theorizing and practice of high school principals in Jamaica. The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine how school principals in Jamaica make sense of their leadership practices and how they use this knowledge to respond to their school contexts and shifting socio-cultural dynamics. Using a narrative interview approach data were collected from 13 high school principals. The findings presented in this article indicate that a) high school principals in Jamaica theorized their leadership approaches drawing on various leadership paradigms; b) high school principals perceived their leadership as inextricably linked to the community context of the school; c) the importance of building relationships with members of the community; and d) the importance of leadership preparation and development to their work as school principals.