Instructional leadership in school middle leaders

• Published in: International journal of educational management Vol. 37; no. 6/7; pp. 1288 - 1302
• Main Author: Shaked, Haim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 04.12.2023; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Department Heads; Educational Environment; Educational leadership; Elementary School Teachers; Foreign Countries; Instructional Leadership; Learning; Middle Management; Principals; School Administration; School principals; Students; Teacher Leadership; Teaching; Teaching Methods; Israel; Principals; The Israeli school system; Instructional leadership; School middle leaders
• ISSN: 0951-354X; 1758-6518
• DOI: 10.1108/IJEM-03-2023-0089

PurposeInstructional leadership is a school leadership approach that emphasizes improving teaching and learning. This study explores how school middle leaders – teachers holding leadership positions in schools, who are responsible for a particular area or discipline of the school's curriculum – fulfill their instructional leadership role.Design/methodology/approachThe participants in this qualitative study were 24 middle leaders (subject coordinators) in elementary schools in Israel. Data collection was based on semi-structured interviews, and data analysis included three stages: sorting, coding and categorizing.FindingsThe current study points to three main characteristics of instructional leadership in school middle leaders: leading by expertise; leading by collaboration; and leading by example.Originality/valueAt present, there is only scant literature on instructional leadership in school middle leaders. This study suggests that principals and middle leaders, who work closely with each other to provide instructional leadership in their schools, do so in different ways.