The faith leadership role of the principal : What the research suggests

[Extract] There is no person or role more vital to the Catholic mission and identity of a school than is that of its principal. If the contention of this book – that Catholic schools are key to the survival and development of the Church – is true, the issue of the faith leadership of principals in Catholic schools must be considered. There are strong expectations in Church documents, diocesan policy and specific role descriptions that the principal will take responsibility for the development of the school as a faith community. At the same time, researchers have for some time agreed that the principal is able to influence and shape culture within schools in ways beyond other school personnel or external bodies (Deal and Peterson, 2003; Grint, 2003; Lingard, Hayes, Mills and Christie, 2003). However, it is also understood that principal leadership in the changing socio-cultural context is more often than not quite challenging (Day, 2007). Likewise, faith leadership, as a dimension of principal leadership in Catholic schools, has proved to be no less so.