A1 Journal article (refereed)
Perspectives on Leadership in Early Childhood Education and Care Centers Through Community of Practice (2022)

Heikkinen, K.-M., Ahtiainen, R., & Fonsén, E. (2022). Perspectives on Leadership in Early Childhood Education and Care Centers Through Community of Practice. SAGE Open, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221091260

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Heikkinen, Kirsi-Marja; Ahtiainen, Raisa; Fonsén, Elina

Journal or series: SAGE Open

eISSN: 2158-2440

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 12/05/2022

Volume: 12

Issue number: 2

Publisher: Sage Publications

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221091260

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/81169

Abstract

This article investigates early childhood education and care (ECEC) leadership through the concept of community of practice (COP). The focus is on ECEC leaders’ perceptions regarding their leadership during the educational changes taking place in the context of Finnish ECEC. The purpose is to increase understanding of how leaders see themselves in relation to the ECEC multi professional working community and practices of distributed leadership. The data are five focus group interviews of ECEC leaders analyzed with directed content analysis within the theoretical frame of domain, practice, and community forming the core of COP in Lave and Wenger. The results show how all three COP components comprise several dimensions in ECEC leaders’ perceptions of their leadership. For example, the component of the leadership domain consists of ECEC values, ECEC legislation, and ECEC curriculum. The results indicate that a formal leadership role is essential in leading the community and its vision. Moreover, building flexible leadership structures and supporting multi professional cooperation in the community augment leadership as a community’s joint enterprise.

Keywords: early childhood education and care; day care centres; managers and executives; leadership (properties); leadership (activity); pedagogical leadership; managerial work; work communities; communality; multi-professionalism; interaction

Free keywords: community of practice; pedagogical leadership; distributive leadership

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1