Learning and impact – Perspective from John Loughran
Effective pedagogical leadership is crucial if professional learning is to be responsive to the needs and concerns of teachers. In this case, Jo has explored and responded to Leslie’s need to better support her students’ literacy learning within visual arts. But another important condition for change that has emerged in the case is the importance of a school culture that values pedagogical leadership for learning and supports genuine professionalism in teaching. In this respect, overt senior management support is vital.
Pedagogical leadership that leads to meaningful professional learning cannot be mandated. Rather, it must be valued and developed through a culture of learning and through open and honest support from school senior management. As this case illustrates, when these conditions are present, learning and improvement can occur for pedagogical leaders, for the teachers they are working with, and for students in the classroom.
