Shadowing School Principals: A Methodological Exploration

Abstract

The originality of our contribution resides in the confrontation of our experiences of shadowing within different linguistic and cultural contexts (French-speaking Switzerland, German-speaking Switzerland, France). The differences between linguistic regions and countries exist and it is a matter of identifying them and then analyzing them in order to be able to work with them. Finally, to approach real work in a non-normative approach (which does not immediately assert the best way to do one's work but first tries to understand it as it is actually done) is a major challenge for researchers. Much of the research in our field approaches leadership from a best practice perspective. In a complementary way, we believe it is essential to also offer an understanding of these practices as they really are in all their complexity. We consider it important to study the methodological approaches to achieve this, while at the same time having the opportunity to exchange with other researchers on this subject internationally.