Abstract
This lecture examines a number of key issues around successful school leadership and leader development in Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific region. Three metaphors are used to frame, track and analyze recent research and commentary in the area – these are clones, drones and dragons. Although development mechanisms rarely fall neatly within one category, the metaphors provide a useful way to examine the evolution, development and ongoing uncertainties which continue to plague our attempts to understand and prepare successful leaders. Clones duplicate what others think they know about successful leadership. Drones are controlled ‘from-afar’ by centralized authorities or other ‘outsiders’. Dragons take organic forms which can mutate in terms of shape, colour and form in line with more localized needs. As such, they aim to nurture leaders who lead change successfully within their communities with reference to but not dictated by standardized knowledge. Issues flowing from interactions between these categories form a set of questions or tensions faced by systems and leaders across the region. The lecture concludes by posing a number of key questions, issues and contradictions which challenge us as we struggle to better understand what makes successful school leader development in the regional context. Copyright © 2011 The Hong Kong Institute of Education.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Hong Kong |
| Publisher | The Hong Kong Institute of Education |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 |