Exploring Cross-Cultural Perspectives of Teacher Leadership Among the Members of an International Research Team: A Phenomenographic Study

This paper reports a phenomenographic study exploring diverse understandings and experiences of teacher leadership among 12 members the International Study Teacher Leadership research team comprised 20 academics located in 10 countries. Mind mapping semi-structured, online interviews were used to explore ways that participants related with phenomenon interest: ‘teacher leadership’. Phenomenographic analysis interview artifacts revealed nine qualitatively different conceptions study’s outcome space across three broad domains: A: The school, school community, formal education system; B: leader’s professional self; C: broader historical, socio-political global contexts leadership. In addition providing ‘touchstone’ for team’s ongoing research, these findings serve as an experiential framework thinking about leadership, potentially encouraging more inclusive, complete richer phenomenon.