District Supervisors’ Involvement in School Renewal: Educational Leadership or a Perceived Imposition?

This paper reports on the process of Catholic School Renewal in a regional Australian diocese. In particular it focuses on the role and approach of district supervisors and the impact they have on a change process in the schools for which they are responsible. The research comprised a qualitative case study. Participants were a sample of staff members who worked in one of four selected Catholic primary schools situated in the Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton. Data collection took the form of semi-structured interviews and a survey questionnaire. The data were analysed using the constant comparative method. The research concluded that there is a need for district supervisors to have strong inter-relational skills and a solid understanding of leadership concepts and the ability to implement them. The study also concluded that district supervisors should undertake appropriate professional development to ensure that they all have equivalent understandings of renewal and of their role within it.