Leading From the Middle: The Leadership Role of Middle Leaders on the Management of Teaching and Learning

This article investigates the influence of middle leaders in improving classroom practice and learner outcomes in the Johannesburg East Education District of Gauteng province. It is becoming increasingly clear, both worldwide and in South Africa, that managing teaching and learning is one of the most critical tasks for principals and other school leaders. Managing teaching and learning is a fundamental factor in South Africa’s new national certification for school leaders and future principals. Drawing on empirical findings of case studies based on a large doctoral project, the study demonstrates that the role of middle leaders is multifaceted and requires unending attention. These empirical findings also demonstrates that controlling teaching and learning is frequently insufficient and fails to adequately address the social and educational issues that middle leaders, teachers, learners and their communities face.