Generation X School Leaders as Agents of Care: Leader and Teacher Perspectives from Toronto, New York City and London

Karen Edge, Katherine Descours and Keren Frayman
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Karen Edge: UCL Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL, UK
Katherine Descours: UCL Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL, UK
Keren Frayman: UCL Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL, UK

Societies, 2016, vol. 6, issue 2, 1-21

Abstract: This paper draws on evidence from our three-year Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)-funded research study of the lives, careers, experiences and aspirations of Generation X (under 40 years of age) principals and vice-principals in London, New York City, and Toronto. More specifically, the paper examines interview evidence from nine school-based studies in which nine leaders and 54 teachers discuss their perspectives on leaders’ care of their staff members. The evidence demonstrates that leaders and teachers both place a high level of importance on leaders’ ability and willingness to be supportive, understanding, and approachable. Teachers also expect leaders to serve as advocates for and role models of good work/life balance. While the school-level studies take place in radically different city-based contexts, the expectation of leaders’ care for teachers transcends different accountability and policy structures. Both groups focus their discussion on work/life balance and, more specifically, the need for leaders to understand that teachers are people with lives beyond school. The paper highlights implications for policy, practice, and future research.

Keywords: leadership; Generation X; global cities; care; collective efficacy; work/life balance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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