Availability of Professional Learning Community and the Leadership Practices that Support it in Governmental Schools in Egypt and the Sultanate of Oman

The purpose of this study was to identify the availability of the dimensions of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and the leadership practices that support them in government schools. It also investigated the differences in the previous areas across nationality (Egyptian/ Omani), and gender (male / female). The study sample consisted of 1235 teachers 509 from Egypt and 726 from Oman. The scale developed by Olivier, Hipp and Huffman (2010) was used to measure PLC dimensions, and Pohl (2012) classification was used to identify school leadership practices that support PLCs in schools. This classification is aligned with school leadership standards. The overall sample rated highly both the availability of PLC dimensions and the leadership practices that support them. The study found significant differences due to nationality in favor of the Omani sample, and due to gender in favor of females. The study concludes with some mechanisms recommended to improve PLCs and school leadership to support them in government schools.

Chinese Principal Perceptions on the American School Leadership Standards

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of Chinese school principals on the importance of American Educational Leadership Program Standards. Seventy three principals from a county in Guangdong, China completed the Principal Leadership Standards Questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that the Chinese principals perceived the majority of American leadership standards to be either important or very important in school administration. Perception differences among the leadership dimensions were significant. The principal leadership standards in the management of school organization and school instruction were perceived to be significantly more important than the leadership dimensions of school vision and collaborative partnership. The results of the study contribute to the development of school leadership training programs in China. Recommendations were made in using the framework of American leadership standards in China for the development and re-development of university programs and professional trainings in school leadership.

The Impact of Technology on School Leadership

Past, present, and future perspectives on the impact of technology on school leadership are included, viewed through the framework of published school leadership standards. The chapter concludes with comment about technology induced issues likely to be faced by school leaders in the near future, followed by advice about the personal qualities required for future school leaders to confront these issues.