Reimagining Educational Leadership In The Caribbean

Includes appendix (pages 103-106): survey questionnaire.

Canute S. Thompson examines the nexus between the place and scope of the educational enterprise of a country and a country's developmental prospects and experience. His central claim is that the sustainable development of a country is a function of the quality of its education system and the levels to which its citizens are educated. He argues that in this calculus, the quality of post-secondary and tertiary education systems is a determinant of a country's prospects for development. In examining the issue of underdevelopment facing the Caribbean, Thompson explains that institutions of higher learning in the region face the imperative of finding ways of becoming both more accessible and more relevant to the developmental needs of the region. Taking account of the provisions of the General Agreement on Trades in Services, he points to the disadvantages this trading arrangement poses for higher education institutions in small developing states and suggests ways in which the vulnerabilities these institutions face may be addressed. While asserting that higher education institutions, including and especially the University of the West Indies, must find ways to remain viable in a highly competitive marketplace, Thompson argues that governments of the region have a duty to ensure the survival and success of these institutions. In this vein, he advances recommendations for the public funding of access to higher education. Thompson also examines impediments to development - such as crime, the decline in social activism, weak institutional processes and leadership, and public mistrust - and explores their connection to education. He concludes that the path to sustainable regional development is dependent on improving the quality of, and access to, education, and that such improvements will in turn help contain crime, inspire social activism, strengthen institutional processes and leadership, and ultimately restore public trust.

Academic Paper from the year 2022 in the subject Pedagogy - School Pedagogics, grade: higher education, , course: Educational Leadership, language: English, abstract: In the Caribbean, school closures have left 7 million learners and over 90, 000 teachers across 23 countries and territories struggling to identify sustainable responses to the catastrophe caused by the covid-19 pandemic. Academic leaders across the world have responded to the crisis by closing institutions, canceling face-to-face activities and moving their educational and related activities online. Academic leaders are therefore expected to play a crucial role in the management of an appropriate response to the crisis at their institutions. While institutions are forced to function in an environment of uncertainty and growing intensity of the novel coronavirus pandemic, academic leaders can be credited with making the decision of shifting towards remote learning (Fernandez & Shaw 2020). This massive shift towards pivoting to remote learning is a demonstration that academic leaders are resolute in embracing the transformation of academia to a more modern system. In the context of this change, it is anticipated that the recovery period and beyond will clearly require an evolution of leaders who are more prepared to manage crises while advancing the technology agenda. The process of reimagining education, therefore, is a call for academic leaders to successfully embrace change management, master crisis management, and demonstrate resilience in an effort to successfully lead the recovery process.

Successful school leadership is an issue currently being debated up and down Caribbean territories. Key issues in the ongoing debate include: students’ outcomes and participation in the regional Caribbean Secondary Examinations (CSEC); teacher recruitment and retention; teacher training and continuing professional development (upgrading); and parental involvement. These issues point to leadership at various levels, whether in its exercise or in its influence, and are examined within and across national and regional education systems. Particular attention is given to debates around improving outcomes for students, teacher development and the role of the principal in leading school improvement. A source of debate about practice of school leadership in the Caribbean surrounds the issue of gender. Where are men in teaching? Where are men in leadership positions and positions of responsibility? Unlike in some countries where, for example, men tend to hold more leadership positions than women, especially at the secondary phase of education, in the Caribbean this is not the case: there are more female teachers at every level and more female teachers occupy leadership positions at every level. Within this book, gendered leadership as practised and enacted in the Caribbean is examined from religious, social, historical and political positions, pointing to a clear political dichotomy. There is no unitary definition of what can count as school leadership in the Caribbean, despite clear similarities of practices and approaches. What this volume argues, however, is that within the Caribbean region there are many similarities of experience for the practice and exercise of school leadership which draw on a common framework of teacher training, a common language and a common socio-political history that existed well before the formation of CARICOM through British colonisation. This book does not dwell on the period of British colonisation but discusses the extent to which this period in Caribbean history has influenced the practice of school leadership today, most notably in areas such as curricular and teacher training models. Education in emergency situations, such teaching and learning in severe weather conditions such as hurricanes, is also spotlighted. As a whole, the themes in this edited volume proffer an evidence-based approach to contemporary issues in school leadership in the Caribbean and extend the current literature in the field.

The chapters in this book should stimulate the reader not only to think about the kind of leadership that is needed to improve schools in the Caribbean (using 'schools' in the widest sense to range from early childhood to higher education institutions) but also other forms of support. The book deals in detail with issues of leadership. At the theoretical level there is exploration of appropriate models of leadership in the effort to create effective schools. At the practical level the importance of the principal's role is explored. This book is very timely and should prove informative not only to current and prospective leaders but also to students and scholars both locally and internationally with an interest in Caribbean education. The chapters are written in a sufficiently user- friendly style to be of interest also to the general public who want to see the process of transformation realised in our education systems.

In the dynamic field of education, leaders confront unprecedented challenges necessitating effective crisis management and creative problem-solving skills. The Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the criticality of innovative approaches to educational leadership, enabling leaders to navigate uncertainty, adapt to rapid changes, and sustain educational institutions. Nevertheless, limited resources exist to guide leaders in the post-pandemic world, revealing a significant research gap. Promoting Crisis Management and Creative Problem-Solving Skills in Educational Leadership addresses this urgent issue by offering a comprehensive solution. Authored by renowned scholars and practitioners, this book presents a roadmap for reimagining educational leadership, equipping leaders with the necessary skills to thrive in challenging times. By exploring diverse perspectives and drawing from real-world experiences, the book empowers educational leaders to effectively manage crises, inspire stakeholders, and guide organizations toward success and sustainability. By focusing on crisis management, innovative problem-solving strategies, and the development of essential leadership competencies, this book fills the void in the current literature. It not only provides insights into the distinctive challenges of the post-pandemic world but also offers practical guidance and actionable recommendations for leaders in educational settings. Scholars, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners who engage with this book will gain valuable knowledge and tools to navigate the complexities of educational leadership, ensuring the continuous growth and enhancement of their institutions.

· What drives school leaders? · What do they do on a day to day basis? · What helps or constrains their decision-making? · What keeps them focused amidst challenges? Rather than applying theory to practice, Exploring School Leadership in England and the Caribbean draws on how school leaders practice and experience their own leadership. Paul Miller draws on case studies from Jamaica and England to explore what it means to be a school leader and explores a wide-range of issues, including accountability, performativity, inclusion and multiculturalism, technology, staffing and resourcing decisions. While no two school leaders will have identical experiences as a school leader, Paul Miller draws on the first-hand accounts of school leaders to show that regardless of school size, type and location there are a number of common experiences and themes. Miller acknowledges that the practice of school leadership is occurring in an uncertain economic environment, buoyed by a fast paced policy context where by targets linked to national economic development are the new normal. He concludes that school leadership is a continuous balancing act driven by and experienced through an “Economic-motor model” of schooling- which he proposes.

The role of lead executives is demanding under normal circumstances, but more so during times of institutional crisis. The existence of ongoing internal organizational crises plus crises triggered by external events and shocks requires that leaders and managers be equipped with the tools to manage such crises. Therefore, further study is required that considers the difficulties of leading various organizations as well as best practices for future management. The Handbook of Research on Activating Middle Executives’ Agency to Lead and Manage During Times of Crisis is a comprehensive reference source that offers practical applications, tools, and skills to equip middle leaders to meaningfully participate in crisis management and resolution in institutions for improved outcomes and discusses a multi-pronged framework for building middle leaders’ crisis response efficacies. The book also invites top-tier educational and industry practitioners to reflect on how they have led during times of crisis. Covering topics such as mentoring, coping strategies, and sustainable development, this major reference work is ideal for educational leaders, managers, business owners, human resource professionals, scholars, researchers, academicians, instructors, and students.