Leadership development in Queensland Christian Brothers schools

McManus, Brendan (1990). Leadership development in Queensland Christian Brothers schools PhD Thesis, Graduate School of Education, The University of Queensland.

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Author McManus, Brendan
Thesis Title Leadership development in Queensland Christian Brothers schools
School, Centre or Institute Graduate School of Education
Institution The University of Queensland
Publication date 1990
Thesis type PhD Thesis
Total pages 350
Language eng
Subjects 130211 Religion Curriculum and Pedagogy
2204 Religion and Religious Studies
Formatted abstract This study was undertaken to address the issue of ensuring future quality leadership for Christian Brothers schools in Queensland. Three research questions were posed in order to focus the study. These questions were:

1. What qualities are desirable in future leaders of Christian Brothers schools in
    Queensland?

2. What framework is appropriate to promote the development of potential leaders in
    Queensland Christian Brothers schools?

3. What outcomes create implications for the theory and practice of leadership
    development in Christian Brothers schools in Queensland?

A two round modified Delphic probe was used with four groups of respondents from across Queensland. These were sampled from each of the following groups: (1) Clergy and Catholic education professionals. (2) Christian Brothers from the Province of St Francis Xavier which incorporates Queensland and the Northern Territory. (3) Teachers from each of the ten order owned or congregational colleges. (4) Parents from each of these ten schools.

The qualities identified by the respondents were identified in the following order of priority:

First: Personal faith
Second: Personal qualities
Third: Vision
Fourth: Commitment to the Catholicity of the school
Fifth: Administrative competence
Sixth: Commitment to the charism of Edmund Rice
Seventh: Teaching competence.

Based on this leadership profile and after reviewing the literature on leadership, a process or framework was devised to enable a ten year developmental programme to be devised.

The first year, or the initial stage, of the model was then initiated. The key features of the process involved the conduct of leadership development programmes at the province and local level. These programmes were to be initiated at the province level following a S.T.R.A.T.E.G.I.C. P.L.A.N. for current and potential leaders as well as whole school communities. The stages of the S.T.R.A.T.E.G.I.C. P.L.A.N. were outlined as follows:

S: Select all staff with a view to potential leadership.
T: Target potential leaders.
R: Renew their personal faith.
A: Affirm their vision.
T: Teach them the myths, the traditions, the stories.
E Encourage their growth in skills development.
O. Goal set to develop their personal pastoral plan.
I: Individualise their learning.
C Continually celebrate and challenge.

P: Plan at province and local level.
L: Local initiatives are most significant.
A: Actively support evaluation and review of development.
N: Negotiate the future with the stakeholders.

Subsequent to the conclusion of the initial stage, a case study was conducted with a range of the conference participants. Following conference evaluations and the case study, recommendations for improvement to the process were made. Consistent with the organic nature of the study, there were a number of changes proposed for the leadership development programme to be made more effective. These were incorporated in a revised framework.

The study provided three principal conclusions for leadership development in Christian Brothers schools. Those conclusions were:

  (i) Leadership development is interactive. This implies that all of the stakeholders
       need to be involved in leadership development.

  (ii) The qualities sought in leaders of Catholic schools are such as to enable the
       development of competencies to lead.

  (iii) Consistent with the development of the servant model of leadership, there are a
       number of identifiable factors which are necessary to ensure that quality
       leadership of effective schools in the Christian Brothers tradition can be
       maintained.

A series of practical recommendations for implementation at the province and individual school community levels concludes the study.
Keyword Christian Brothers, Irish -- Education -- Queensland.
Catholic schools -- Queensland -- Administration.
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