Abstract
To improve my leadership and management practice as a Departmental Head (DH) at a secondary school in Limpopo, I conducted a self-study project focused on exploring leading and managing teachers in a natural science department in a rural school. I wanted to develop, and transform my leadership and management practice. There is very limited information in the academic field on how to lead and manage teachers in a natural science department in a rural school.
My primary research question was: How can I better lead and manage teachers in a natural science department in a rural school. I used critical collaborative inquiry, where I worked with critical friends to address the research aim. The study employed a purposive sampling with four participants: two male teachers and two female DHs from the same secondary school. The two teachers were under my supervision, the two DHs worked with me, and they led their own departments. Qualitative self-study design was employed and data were generated by conducting open-ended interviews. Data generated was analysed by applying qualitative thematic analysis. The findings disclosed that the DH in a natural science department should engage teachers in the decision-making process in the department. Furthermore, I needed to delegate duties so as foster collaboration and teamwork in the department. The findings from the study recommended that SMT should begin to support and acknowledge the DHs for their countless endeavors and avoid discouraging those performing teacher leadership. Furthermore, clear policies should be designed to advance training programs for prospective DHs. Principals must provide mentoring and continual training and development of DHs at school level.