School leaders’ reflective blogs inspire systemic change: A narrative inquiry

Five school leaders who took part in the Shadow a Student Challenge Project discovered the potential for meaningful and long-lasting change when a school culture is founded on awareness, relationships, and change. Leader empathy for student experiences inspired hacks (small innovations) generating a positive cultural shift within each school environment. Researchers used a narrative inquiry approach to understand and portray the leaders’ stories as shared in their reflections. Blogging was an integral aspect of the leadership experience and provided feedback and support within an international community of practice. The study revealed positive implications for school public relations when administrators communicate school changes to their communities.