Anthony Fisher- The position of Principals within a schools social network

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I did not attend this however I contributed to the research and have on my to do list to follow up.
 Big Question .
 Is my leadership 'relational'
Anthony Fisher
Te Kura Toi Tangata – Faculty of Education

Where do principals sit? The position of principals within a schools social network. Overview Introduction Background Setting the scene - Social networks - Relationships Leadership - Relationships Initial Thoughts Summary

TE KURA TOI TANGATA FACULTY OF EDUCATION waikato.ac.nz/education

Where do principals sit? The position of principals within a schools social network. “it lies in seeing that the most powerful influence consists of deeply human relationships in which two or more people engage with one another” (Burns, 1978, p.13) “To be human is to relate. To relate is dialogue We ontologically exist in relationship and doilogue” (Giles, Smyth & Spence, 2012, p. 13). “We need fewer reports about leadership and more analysis of leadership in action” (Timperley & Hulsbosch, 2010, p.1)

TE KURA TOI TANGATA FACULTY OF EDUCATION waikato.ac.nz/education

Where do principals sit? The position of principals within a schools social network. Background • Background • Masters • Integration • Leadership Roles • Research

TE KURA TOI TANGATA FACULTY OF EDUCATION waikato.ac.nz/education

Where do principals sit? The position of principals within a schools social network. “the principals in the study were careful to maintain positive relationships with their teachers” (Carlyon & Fisher, 2012, p. 73) “significant influence on their schools, staff and students,...through [their] style of leadership” (Carlyon & Fisher, 2012, p. 71).

TE KURA TOI TANGATA FACULTY OF EDUCATION waikato.ac.nz/education

Where do principals sit? The position of principals within a schools social network. Social Networks • Critical Position within Limited research Determinants of change

TE KURA TOI TANGATA FACULTY OF EDUCATION waikato.ac.nz/education

Where do principals sit? The position of principals within a schools social network. “a core belief underlying modern social network analysis is the importance of understanding the interactions between actors” (Freeman, 2004, p. 16). “little empirical work has been done on leadership and social networks” (Brass, Galaskiewicz, Greve & Tsai, 2004, p, 800).

TE KURA TOI TANGATA FACULTY OF EDUCATION waikato.ac.nz/education

Where do principals sit? The position of principals within a & Initial schools social network. Summary The positioning within a social network makes a difference to relationship Principals tend to make a conscious decision where they place themselves often

TE KURA TOI TANGATA FACULTY OF EDUCATION waikato.ac.nz/education

Where do principals sit? The position of principals within a & Initial schools social network. “social network research suggests that informal webs of relationships are often the chief determinants of how well and quickly change efforts take hold, diffuse and sustain” (Daly, 2010, p. 2). Social networks are “a critical way to sustain =the work of teaching and learning” (Daly, 2010. p. 1)

TE KURA TOI TANGATA FACULTY OF EDUCATION waikato.ac.nz/education

Where do principals sit? The position of principals within a & Initial schools social network. What does happen in the interactions between principals and teachers? What difference is there depending on position within the social networks? Is this leading towards a more relational approach to leadership?

sit? The position of principals within a & I

Where do principals sit? The position of principals within a schools social network. References Burns, J.M. (1978). Leadership. New York, NY: Harper & Row. Brass, D.J., Galaskiewicz, J., Greve, H.R., & Tsai, W. (2004) Taking stock of networks and organisations. A multilevel perspective. Academy of Management Jouranl,47, 795-817. Carlyon, T., & Fisher, A. (2012). What informs primary school principals’ decision making in relation teacher placement in class levels? Australian Journal of Education, 56(1), 68-78. Daly, A.J. (2010). Mapping the terrain: Social network theory and educational change. In A.J. Daly (Ed.), Social network theory and educational change (pp. 1-16): Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard Education Press. Freeman, L. C., (2004). The development of social network analysis: A study in the sociology of science. Vancouver, BC/Noeth Carolina, SC: Empirical Press/BookSurge. Giles, D., Smythe, E., & Spence, D. (2012). Exploring relationships in education: A phenomenological inquiry. Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 52(2), 214-236. Timperley, H., & Hulsbosch,: A study in the sociology of science. N. (2010). Instructional leadership in action. Paper presented as part of a symposium on “Change through conversations: Instructional action”. AERA, Denver.

Thank you