Reviewing the Literature on Principal Leadership for Parent Engagement

In this chapter, we identify four different studies from the international literature which provide examples of principal leadership for parent engagement. Our analysis of these investigations provides a basis for the findings and discussion of our research in the Principal Leadership for Parent Engagement project featured in the rest of this book. This analysis reveals three interconnected themes related to the qualities and strategies of principals and school leaders considered successful in parent engagement. These are: communicating a strong school vision; developing trusting, respectful relationships; and establishing a positive school culture for parent engagement. For each theme, we take the opportunity to apply our understanding of the concept of agency as achievement (Biesta & Tedder, 2007) to illuminate the qualities and strategies of successful principals. At the end of the chapter, we draw conclusions that increase our understanding about what may help or hinder principal leadership for parent engagement and the value of agency as achievement as a conceptual tool in this field.