Willing to Lead: The Dual Role of Principal and Religious Education Coordinators in Small Rural Catholic Schools.

This article reports a study of the practice of small school leadership in small rural Catholic schools. Within the contextual complexities of accentuated expectations by the local community, small school principals undertake the added burden of the position of Religious Education Coordinator (REC), where for many of them, the school is located in communities without the presence of a resident priest in the parish. The methodology in this study included semi-structured interviews and examined both individual human behaviour and the structure of the social order in these schools. The findings suggest that the role of the principal/REC is seen as not just the religious leader in the school but the wider community as well. Though participants in this study face significant challenges in their role, there is a willingness by principals to take on significant religious leadership, to make a positive contribution to local communities and Catholic education. The participants in this study gave a very positive perspective on the future of small Catholic schools in rural areas, but there does appear to be a need for ongoing support for the principal/REC as a religious, school and community leader.