Ne Primary Leaders International Perspectives [Paperback]

New primary leaders face significant challenges worldwide and this book brings together the range of those experiences and challenges for the first time. It includes interviews with primary school leaders in the early years of leadership in 12 different countries. Each chapter begins with an introduction to the principal and the local context before the principal's own description of her or his experience as a new leader. The leaders discuss how they prepared for principalship, their experiences after taking up the post, the extent to which the job meets with their expectations and their hopes and fears for the future. The final chapter provides a comparative overview, exploring new principals' perceptions of key influences on schools and their communities, their reactions to the multiple, heightened and often-conflicting expectations, pressures and challenges they encounter and the implications for principal preparation internationally. The voices of principals from around the world provide a vivid and authentic picture of new school leaders in different contexts at the beginning of the 21st century.

Acknowledgements \ Editor's Note \ Contributors \ 1. New Principals:Context, Culture, Preparation, Induction and Practice Michael Cowie \ Part 1:Australasia \ 2. At the Edge of the Silent Centre: An Australian Principal's Reflectionson Leading an Isolated School Helen Wildy and Simon Clarke \ 3. Tihei Mauri Ora:Becoming a Primary School Principal in New Zealand Reynold Macpherson \ Part 2:Americas \ 4. Leadership Based in Love of People and Place: A Novice Principalin an Economically Poor Community in Texas, United States Sarah W. Nelson andIsrael Aguilar \ 5. Changing School Perspective: A Challenge for an ElementarySchool Director in Mexico in Her First Years Gema L?pez-Gorosave, Charles L.Slater, Susana Mart?nez Mart?nez and Jos? Mar?a Garc?a Gardu?o \ 6. Something GreaterWas Happening': A Novice Principal Reflects on Creating Change through BuildingComl³-