All things to all people? Ongoing tension around intercultural school leadership

Schools hold unique potential to positively influence how present and future generations view and interact across multiple worlds. This influence lies not just in curriculums, classrooms and credentials – it plays out in every corner of our schools and their broader communities. Successful intercultural schools depend on the mindsets, competence and actions of their leaders to respectfully weave genuine intercultural understanding that reaches beyond students ‘time’ in school. Effective intercultural leaders understand the importance of working with and aligning the deep structures, cultures and relationships that define schools and influence belief structures and authentic actions. Aligning these elements calls for leaders who constantly seek intercultural knowledgeable, cultivate emancipatory virtues, develop intercultural imaginations and know cultural issues are intimately connected with class, religion and equity – it doesn’t stand alone. A conscious dedication to open and ongoing learning underpins successful intercultural leadership.