Special Education Teacher Leadership in Jordan: Current State and Constraints

• Main Author: Eman Al-Zboon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2016-06-01
• Series: Societies
• Subjects: special education teacher; leadership; educational reform; perceptions
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/6/3/19

Distributed leadership can enhance the professional learning communities of schools. The present study explored the leadership experience of Jordanian special education teachers, and their perceptions of common constraints to leadership. A mixed method design was used, including a survey (n = 136) and an interview (n = 23). Results indicated that special education teachers had little experience of leadership roles. They regarded the provision of cognitive and emotional support to colleagues as their most important leadership role, and participating in interview committees and selecting new teachers as the least important. There were no significant mean differences between male and female special education teachers in their level of enacted leadership. Level of education and years of experience were found to have a significant effect on the level of teachers’ leadership.