Education Commons^™

Contemplative Leadership Practice: The Influences Of Character On Catholic School Leadership, Merylann "Mimi" J. Schuttloffel

Journal of Catholic Education

There is a clear understanding that leaders of faith-based educational institutions shape the school community’s culture in ways that assist in faith formation. This implicit and explicit focus on faith formation and an alignment with the broader mission of the Catholic Church is foundational to contemplative leadership (Schuttloffel, 1999, 2008). Contemplative leadership practice presumes that a leader’s character, shaped by her/his communities, life stories, and virtues, is a necessary quality for making decisions that contribute to a school’s Catholic identity. Using qualitative research methods, this study explores leadership practice within Catholic schools in Australia, England, and the Netherlands, in order …