The chair's dispositions as virtues

• Published in: Teaching and teacher education Vol. 57; pp. 109 - 117
• Main Authors: Melville, Wayne, Weinburgh, Molly, Bartley, Anthony, Jones, Doug, Lampo, Andrea, Lower, Jane, Sacevich, Nick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2016
• Subjects: Dispositions; Subject chairs; Subject departments; Virtues; Subject chairs; Dispositions; Subject departments; Virtues
• ISSN: 0742-051X; 1879-2480
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tate.2016.03.014

This article investigates the importance of the leadership virtues of the hope, trust, piety and civility in the work of two chairs undertaking reforms in their departments within the same school. Using a narrative case study methodology, the article uses the virtues to examine how chairs shape reforms within their departments. Analysis of the data indicates that chairs must strongly value the reform, and develop departmental trust in both the reform and the processes of reform. Finally, piety and civility appear to be critical successful reforms – teachers need to have the opportunity to be engaged in the reforms. •Reform requires department chairs to exhibit the virtues of hope, trust, piety and civility.•Patterns of departmental reform appear to work outwards from hope to trust to piety and civility.•Chairs need a strong faith in their convictions, ideally centred on the well-being of students.•Chairs need to build trust in both the reform and in the processes of reform enactment.