Data informed leadership: the work of primary mathematics lead teachers in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Increasingly, teachers are considered accountable for continuous improvement in student achievement. They are expected to integrate and analyse data from multiple sources in order to make decisions aimed at positively influencing student outcomes. Given the growing recognition of the importance of data-informed decision making in teaching, it is important to understand how teachers can best be supported in this. Currently, there is little research into how teachers can facilitate data literacy development for their in-school colleagues. This study employed an interpretive qualitative methodology to focus on the experiences of mathematics lead teachers (MLTs) in leading change to support the development of their colleagues. MLTs were found to use a range of tailored strategies, providing ‘on the job’ and ‘just in time’ support, and demonstrating evaluative and adaptive capabilities. They were found to provide leadership in the development of data-informed decision making through their collaborative approach.

KEYWORDS:

• Collaborative inquiry
• data literacy
• professional learning and development (PLD)
• mathematics lead teacher

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Frances Edwards

Dr. Frances Edwards is a Senior Lecturer, School of Education, University of Waikato. Her research interests include teacher development, assessment, data literacy, and science and mathematics education. She also has a particular interest in Pacific Education. Frances teaches in postgraduate programmes and in initial teacher education.

Dianne Ogle

Dianne Ogle has been working in mathematics professional development since 2009. Dianne is passionate about mathematics education and is particularly interested in developing student discourse in mathematics classrooms, data-informed decision making and the role of digital technologies in mathematics education.