In 2008, the authors published an article in this journal entitled "Seven Strong Claims about Successful School Leadership" (Leithwood, Harris, and Hopkins 2008). The article was based on a major literature review that was summarised in a paper published by the National College for School Leadership in England. Both the National College…

This paper reviews the results of 63 empirical studies and reviews of research in order to identify those school leadership practices and dispositions likely to help improve equitable school conditions and outcomes for diverse and traditionally underserved students. Guided by a well-developed framework of successful school leadership, results…

This study reviews evidence about the overall influence of direction-setting leadership practices (DSLPs), 1 of 4 major categories of practices included in a widely known conception of effective leadership (e.g., Leithwood & Louis, 2011) and a focus of many other such conceptions, as well. This study also inquires about how direction-setting…

Purpose: Trust among teachers in schools is significantly related to student achievement and trust in school leaders is an important influence on such trust. The purpose of this study is to identify leadership practices which teachers interpret as signs of trustworthiness on the part of their principals. Design/methodology/approach: Evidence for…

In a recent 334-page report, "Investigating the Links to Improved Student Learning," authors Kyla Walstrom, Karen Seashore Louis, Kenneth Leithwood, and Stephen Anderson discuss findings from the Learning from Leadership study. This study was designed to identify and describe successful educational leadership and to explain how such leadership at…

A literature review and empirical research determined that variations in teacher burnout are largely explained by differences in leadership practices. Differences in modeling, individual support, intellectual stimulation, school culture, and leadership styles contribute to or alleviate burnout. (Contains 33 references.) (SK)

A study using survey data from a sample of 1,818 teachers and 6,490 students at a large Canadian school district replicated a study of transformational leadership's effects on selected organizational conditions and student engagement with school. Such leadership strongly affected organizational conditions and moderately influenced student…

Findings of a study that examined the role of policy implementation in school reform are presented in this paper. The focus is on a British Columbia policy, the Primary Program, which is intended to reform educational practices through the first 3 years of schooling. During the first phase of data collection, interviews were conducted with 12…

Findings of a study that examined the relationship between variations in patterns of school leadership and group problem-solving process are presented in this paper. Interviews were conducted at the beginning and end of the school year with 12 principals in British Columbia who had implemented the Primary Program. The initiative was designed to…

Leadership may come from many different sources in a school. This paper examines the relative effects of leadership provided by principals, teachers, and those in other roles. A study based on surveys of 2,727 teachers and 9,025 students in 110 elementary and secondary schools (Ontario, Canada) analyzed the effects of "total leadership," including…

This book describes change in the nature of school leadership as required by the nature of future schools. Two chapters in part 1 develop the perspective for leadership, based on problem solving, for the future. Chapter 1 argues that the problem for future leadership has three components: (1) developing a shared, defensible vision of a future…