Faculty of Education - Theses
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ItemEducational leadership and the contribution of the technical pedagogical head across three types of schools in one Chilean region( 2018)The Chilean school administration system has different actors playing important roles in leadership and school improvement, one clear example being the technical pedagogical head, hereafter referred as TPH, a school middle manager who is in charge of planning, organising, supervising and evaluating curricular and management activities, and who is also responsible for advising the school principal. The TPH must hold a teaching degree; and given their several responsibilities at school, they should have training and experience in planning, orientation, evaluation and curriculum as well as in-depth knowledge of the school itself. This research investigated the perceptions of the role of the TPH in six selected public and private Chilean schools in the cities of Coquimbo and La Serena. Using a qualitative approach guided by hermeneutic phenomenology with the phenomenon of TPH as a central focus of exploration, the study gathered views from 71 people: 7 technical pedagogical heads, 6 principals, 4 level coordinators, 4 general inspectors, 3 school counsellors, 1 school integration program coordinator and a total of 46 members of teaching staff. This study found that the TPH contributes significantly to improving teachers’ practice and provides positive outcomes for schools when their role is focused on curriculum development and implementation. However, the role of the TPH needs to be well defined by school authorities if TPHs are to positively impact school improvement. Finally, a productive relationship between school leaders, teachers and TPHs is essential for school improvement. More studies about the TPH role are required because of their high level of influence within schools in Chile, and their importance as an example of middle-level leadership in schools.