Leadership for Primary Schools: An Examination of Innovation Within an Austrian Educational Context

Authors

  • Petra Hei├ƒenberger University College of Teacher Education (Lower Austria)

Keywords:

Innovation, Principals, Primary School, School Leadership

Abstract

This study examined relationships between the work of innovative school principals and innovative primary schools  determined by defining eight areas of school leadership: Instructional Development, Classroom Management, School Organization, Social Interaction, Personnel Development, Cooperation, Infrastructure and School Marketing. A questionnaire was sent out to 658 primary school principals in Lower Austria. Data were analyzed using Lime Survey, SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), and PASW (Predictive Analysis Soft Ware). To determine to what extent the self-assessment of principals supported the existence of respective areas of innovation, their self-assessment (independent variable) was correlated with the outcomes from the item grouping (i.e., innovation themes). In addition, a correlation calculation with correlation parameters by Pearson and Spearman was executed. In summary, it must be pointed out that between the self-assessment of the principals and the subsequent self-assessment of school innovation themes no statistically significant correlations were verifiable. The study supports the need for further education and training that can support principals in their role as designers of their schools.

 

Author Biography

Petra Heißenberger, University College of Teacher Education (Lower Austria)

Deputy Head of Department

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Published

2016-01-30

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2016): A Global View of Rural Education: Issues, Challenges and Solutions Part II

Section

Articles

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