Teaching Primary Years (Chapter)

Liisa Uusimaki & Susanne Garvis (2019)

When we think of a leader in a primary school, we often think about the principal. While the principal is responsible for the overall running of the school, many people and children contribute to the overall functioning of the school in their various leadership roles. This includes adults and children. Model 1 below highlights the possibilities for leadership in a primary school. Adults take on a variety of leadership roles whether it be as a teacher in the classroom, organizing the school tuckshop, leadership in the parent and citizen organizations within the school, school boards, and many other possibilities. Likewise, primary school students also take on leadership roles whether it be classroom leaders, school leaders, sports leaders, or other types of leadership for primary school students. This chapter will look at some of the roles more closely, starting with the principal.