Exploring the Professional Characteristics and Contexts of School-Based Environmental Education ‘Leaders’

Authors

  • Xavier Fazio Brock University
  • Douglas D Karrow Brock University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v59i4.55747

Keywords:

environmental education, schools, leadership, mixed-methods, éducation à l’environnement, enseignants, écoles, méthodes mixtes

Abstract

Our study explored the professional characteristics and contexts of school-based environmental education (EE) leaders within elementary and secondary schools. Using complementary mixed-methods (surveys and focus groups) we detail the characteristics of EE leaders in these schools. Our analyses revealed that these leaders were predominantly classroom or subject-based teachers and experienced practitioners. They demonstrated the ability to negotiate the constraints of schools and implement school-wide EE initiatives due to their personal commitment to student learning about and for the environment. With our findings and using distributed leadership principles, we provide recommendations to support and enhance EE leadership in schools.

Notre étude a porté sur les caractéristiques et contextes professionnels des leaders en éducation à l’environnement dans les écoles élémentaires et secondaires. Nous appuyant sur des méthodes mixtes et complémentaires (sondages et groupes de discussion), nous présentons de manière détaillée les caractéristiques des leaders en éducation à l’environnement dans ces écoles. Nos analyses ont révélé que ces leaders étaient surtout des enseignants titulaires ou spécialisés et des praticiens expérimentés. Forts de leur engagement personnel face à la conscientisation des étudiants à l’environnement, Ils faisaient preuve de la capacité de composer avec les contraintes des écoles et de mettre sur pied des initiatives portant sur l’éducation à l’environnement à l’échelle de l’école. Nous nous basons sur nos résultats ainsi que sur des principes de distribution du leadership pour offrir des recommandations visant l’appui et l’amélioration du leadership en éducation à l’environnement dans les écoles. 

 

Author Biographies

Xavier Fazio, Brock University

Dr. Xavier Fazio is an Associate Professor in the Department of Teacher Education. His current research interests are science and environmental education, and teacher education and cognition.

Douglas D Karrow, Brock University

Douglas D. Karrow is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, Brock University. His current focus is on environmental education research that is empirically and philosophically oriented toward school settings.

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Published

2014-10-30

How to Cite

Fazio, X., & Karrow, D. D. (2014). Exploring the Professional Characteristics and Contexts of School-Based Environmental Education ‘Leaders’. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 59(4), 613–629. https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v59i4.55747

Issue

Vol. 59 No. 4 (2013): Winter

Section

ARTICLES

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