We are equal, but I am the leader’: leadership enactment in early childhood education in Norway.

The study investigates leadership at middle management level in Norwegian kindergartens from the perspective of the pedagogical coordinators and through their practices and understandings. The research questions are: 1. What characterises pedagogical coordinators as middle managers? 2. How do pedagogical coordinators understand and create leadership?

The results show that leadership is understood through and rooted in democratic values and group-oriented, collaborative and participatory work relations, in accordance with management’s official approach. Moreover, the actions of pedagogical coordinators also show a positional leadership in a more hierarchical structure.

The data collection was conducted through observation in four Norwegian kindergartens (two urban public-sector kindergartens and two rural private-sector kindergartens) over the course of two weeks in each, where the researcher was present at all daily activities and meetings. In addition, interviews were conducted with pedagogical coordinators and managers in the four kindergartens.

Lund, H. H. (2021). “‘We are equal, but I am the leader’: leadership enactment in early childhood education in Norway”. International Journal of Leadership in Education, DOI: 10.1080/13603124.2021.1969039.