Jamaican teachers’ perspectives on their power and empowerment at their schools

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the perspectives of nine teachers in leadership positions on the issue of power, specifically the amount of power that they possess and how that level of power impacts their work. Data for the study were gathered using a focus group interview. The study found that most of the teachers have a common understanding of power but assess their level of empowerment to be at different levels. All nine teachers hold the view that their level of empowerment impacts their effectiveness in their roles. The findings of the study invite further research on how these teachers’ sense of their sources of power and how they use those powers can impact their effectiveness. The study has implications for organizational leadership, planning, operational management, and performance of the schools studied. Additionally, its insights are potentially transferrable to other schools and organizational settings in which power-sharing and the development of emerging leaders are being explored and implemented.