Leading educational change wisely

Book


Branson, Christopher M.. (2010). Leading educational change wisely Sense Publishers.
AuthorsBranson, Christopher M.
Abstract

Despite over 40 years of research and writing about how to lead educational change, we still can't get it right. Although we keep fine tuning our present ways, we are yet to come up with an approach that enables educational change to happen successfully and sustainably. Although this book acknowledges the importance of learning from our past, it also highlights a key deficiency that has consistently compromised these efforts. To date, our approach to leading educational change has mainly focussed on trying to come up with the perfect practical strategy or plan. In contrast, this book argues that leading educational change successfully is not about following a clearly defined process like following a recipe, but it is an improvisational art more like driving down a busy main street during peak hour traffic. The successful leadership of educational change is an improvisational art because although the leader needs to have an overarching strategy, a guiding plan, what they actually do from moment to moment cannot be scripted. The leader has to move back and forth from their plan to the reality currently being experienced so that the plan is being achieved but any adverse effects on those involved are being empathically and immediately attended to as well. This approach to the leadership of educational change emphasises the need of the leader to be able to cope with the unforeseen, the unexpected, and the idiosyncratic. Moreover, this approach to the leadership of educational change emphasises the relational as well as the rational requirements. While such views might be familiar to many, what is new and unique about this book is that it describes how it all can be achieved. It provides clear, research supported, guidance for those who wish to finally lead successful and sustainable educational change.

ISBN9789460912542
Research GroupSchool of Education
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Year2010
PublisherSense Publishers
Place of publicationThe Netherlands
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8q91q/leading-educational-change-wisely

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 183
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Responding to the Current Capricious State of Australian Educational Leadership: We Should Have Seen It Coming!
Branson, Christopher M., Marra, Maureen and Kidson, Paul. (2024). Responding to the Current Capricious State of Australian Educational Leadership: We Should Have Seen It Coming! Education Sciences. 14(4), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/edusci14040410
Bringing purpose and peace-of-mind to the role of a Catholic school middle leader
Buchanan, Michael T., Branson, Christopher M. and Marra, Maureen. (2022). Bringing purpose and peace-of-mind to the role of a Catholic school middle leader. British Journal of Religious Education. 44(3), pp. 304-314. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2021.2008314
Catholic school leadership revisited
Branson, Christopher M., Hall, David, Sultmann, William and Kidson, Paul. (2021). Catholic school leadership revisited. Educatio Catholica. 7(3-4), pp. 121-144.
Re-constructing Catholic school leadership : Integrating mission, identity and practice
Branson, Christopher, Marra, Maureen and Buchanan, Michael. (2019). Re-constructing Catholic school leadership : Integrating mission, identity and practice. International Studies in Catholic Education. 11(2), pp. 219-232. https://doi.org/10.1080/19422539.2019.1641053
Leadership as a relational phenomenon : What this means in practice
Branson, Christopher M. and Marra, Maureen. (2019). Leadership as a relational phenomenon : What this means in practice. Research in Educational Administration and Leaders. 4(1), pp. 81-108. https://doi.org/10.30828/real/2019.1.4
A theory-to-practice leadership learning arrangement in a university context
Franken, Margaret, Branson, Chris and Penney, Dawn. (2018). A theory-to-practice leadership learning arrangement in a university context. International Journal of Leadership in Education. 21(4), pp. 491 - 505. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2016.1247196
In search of seamless education
Branson, Christopher, Morrison, Michele and McNae, Rachel. (2016). In search of seamless education. In In S. J. Shapiro and J. P. Gross (Ed.). Democratic Ethical Educational Leadership: Reclaiming School Reform pp. 138 - 143 Routledge.
Middle leadership in higher education: A relational analysis
Branson, Christopher M., Franken, Margaret and Penney, Dawn. (2016). Middle leadership in higher education: A relational analysis. Educational Management, Administration & Leadership. 44(1), pp. 128 - 145. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143214558575
The reintegration of Tongan postgraduate scholars after study abroad: Knowledge utilisation and resituation
Franken, Margaret, Langi, Nautalus Tuituiovai Kaho and Branson, Christopher. (2016). The reintegration of Tongan postgraduate scholars after study abroad: Knowledge utilisation and resituation. Asia Pacific Education Review. 17(4), pp. 691 - 702. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-016-9462-5
Multiple hues : New Zealand school leaders' perceptions of social justice
Morrison, Michele, McNae, Rachel and Branson, Christopher. (2015). Multiple hues : New Zealand school leaders' perceptions of social justice. Journal of Educational Leadership Policy and Practice. 30(1), pp. 4 - 16.
Tui tui tuituia - Weaving together : What can be generalized from these articles?
Branson, Christopher, Morrison, Michele and McNae, Rachel. (2015). Tui tui tuituia - Weaving together : What can be generalized from these articles? Journal of Educational Leadership Policy and Practice. 30(1), pp. 119 - 128.
Personal values of principals and their manifestation in student behaviour : A district-level study in Pakistan
Branson, Christopher, Baig, Sharifullah and Begum, Abida. (2015). Personal values of principals and their manifestation in student behaviour : A district-level study in Pakistan. Educational Management, Administration & Leadership. 43(1), pp. 107 - 128. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143213510505
Middle leaders' learning in a university context
Franken, Margaret, Penney, Dawn and Branson, Christopher. (2015). Middle leaders' learning in a university context. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management. 37(2), pp. 190 - 203. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2015.1019120
Educational change leadership through a new zonal theory lens : Using mathematics curriculum change as the example
Lamb, Janeen and Branson, Christopher. (2015). Educational change leadership through a new zonal theory lens : Using mathematics curriculum change as the example. Policy Futures in Education. 13(8), pp. 1010 - 1026. https://doi.org/10.1177/1478210315588840
Professional learning in the lives of teachers: Towards a new framework for conceptualising teacher learning
Cameron, Sandra, Mulholland, Judith and Branson, Christopher. (2013). Professional learning in the lives of teachers: Towards a new framework for conceptualising teacher learning. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education. 41(4), pp. 377 - 397. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359866X.2013.838620
The wisdom-based face of organizations
Branson, Christopher. (2011). The wisdom-based face of organizations. In In M.A.Sarlak (Ed.). The New Faces of Organizations in the 21st Century pp. 173 - 204 North American Institute of Science and Informatio....
Free to become: the essence of learning and leading
Branson, Christopher. (2010). Free to become: the essence of learning and leading. In pp. 85 - 104 Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.
Ethical decision making: Is personal moral integrity the missing link?
Branson, Chris. (2010). Ethical decision making: Is personal moral integrity the missing link? Journal of Authentic Leadership in Education. 1(1), pp. 1 - 8.
Leadership for an age of wisdom
Branson, Christopher. (2009). Leadership for an age of wisdom Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2996-6
Finding a philosophical framework in support of 'presence'
Branson, Chris. (2009). Finding a philosophical framework in support of 'presence'. Leadership and Organization Development Journal. 30(3), pp. 224 - 239. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730910949517
Achieving organisational change through values alignment
Branson, Chris. (2008). Achieving organisational change through values alignment. Journal of Educational Administration. 46(3), pp. 376 - 395. https://doi.org/10.1108/09578230810869293
Improving leadership by nurturing moral consciousness through structured self-reflection
Branson, Christopher Michael. (2007). Improving leadership by nurturing moral consciousness through structured self-reflection. Journal of Educational Administration.
Effects of structured self-reflection on the development of authentic leadership practices among Queensland primary school principals
Branson, Chris. (2007). Effects of structured self-reflection on the development of authentic leadership practices among Queensland primary school principals. Educational Management, Administration & Leadership. 35(2), pp. 225 - 246. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143207075390
Beyond authenticity: Contemporary leadership from a worldview perspective
Branson, Chris. (2006). Beyond authenticity: Contemporary leadership from a worldview perspective. Values and Ethics in Educational Administration. 4(4), pp. 1 - 8.
Focusing on Literacy :A Whole School Approach Preschool to Year 12
Branson, Christopher Michael, Young, Janelle Patricia, Parkinson, John and Johnson, Ruth. (2005). Focusing on Literacy :A Whole School Approach Preschool to Year 12. In Janelle Young (Ed.). Pleasure; Passion; Provocation: Proceedings of the AATE/ALEA National Conference. , Australia: AATE/ALEA Professional Organisations. pp. 1 - 14
Exploring the concept of values-led principalship
Branson, Christopher Michael. (2005). Exploring the concept of values-led principalship. Leading & Managing.
Values led principalship: Myths and realities
Spry, Gayle and Branson, Christopher Michael. (2005). Values led principalship: Myths and realities. In P. Jeffrey (Ed.). Australian Association for Research in Education 2004 Conference Papers. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Association for Research in Education. pp. 1 - 19
An exploration of the concept of values-led principalship
Branson, Christopher Michael. (2004). An exploration of the concept of values-led principalship [Thesis]. https://doi.org/10.4226/66/5a8f96300f3f5