Understanding the Factors Influencing the Work of Middle Years iSTEM Teacher Leaders.
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| Title: | Understanding the Factors Influencing the Work of Middle Years iSTEM Teacher Leaders. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Stevenson, Emma1 (AUTHOR) emma.stevenson@unimelb.edu.au, Thompson, Pauline1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | International Journal of Science & Mathematics Education. Dec2025, Vol. 23 Issue 8, p3271-3295. 25p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Teacher leadership, *Educational leadership, *STEM occupations, *Qualitative research, *Middle school education, *Interdisciplinary education, Thematic analysis |
| Abstract: | Financial, educational and political imperatives have driven the uptake of integrated science, technology, engineering, mathematics (iSTEM) education by many schools. Aiming to increase student interest and achievement, iSTEM education is seen as a vehicle for engaging students in STEM subjects, courses, and careers. However, like many novel educational approaches, its success in schools would likely benefit from leadership support. Research has begun to explore the characteristics of iSTEM teacher leaders, yet there is limited understanding of what factors influence their success/ effectiveness. To provide further insight, the research question explored in this study is: What factors influence the role of middle years iSTEM teacher leaders? This qualitative study investigated the lived experiences of five iSTEM teacher leaders through the thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. Findings identified a range of enablers and inhibitors influence the role of iSTEM teacher leaders, including individual, school and community factors. From these findings, this paper discusses the importance of several key supports for iSTEM teacher leaders including: (1) senior leadership, (2) assorted dispositions, and (3) varied STEM relationships. These insights provide valuable suggestions for school principals and those designing leadership programs for iSTEM teachers as well as propose ideas for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of International Journal of Science & Mathematics Education is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 1 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 190589635 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Understanding the Factors Influencing the Work of Middle Years iSTEM Teacher Leaders. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stevenson%2C+Emma%22">Stevenson, Emma</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> emma.stevenson@unimelb.edu.au</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Thompson%2C+Pauline%22">Thompson, Pauline</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Science+%26+Mathematics+Education%22">International Journal of Science & Mathematics Education</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 23 Issue 8, p3271-3295. 25p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+leadership%22">Teacher leadership</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+leadership%22">Educational leadership</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22STEM+occupations%22">STEM occupations</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+school+education%22">Middle school education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interdisciplinary+education%22">Interdisciplinary education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Financial, educational and political imperatives have driven the uptake of integrated science, technology, engineering, mathematics (iSTEM) education by many schools. Aiming to increase student interest and achievement, iSTEM education is seen as a vehicle for engaging students in STEM subjects, courses, and careers. However, like many novel educational approaches, its success in schools would likely benefit from leadership support. Research has begun to explore the characteristics of iSTEM teacher leaders, yet there is limited understanding of what factors influence their success/ effectiveness. To provide further insight, the research question explored in this study is: What factors influence the role of middle years iSTEM teacher leaders? This qualitative study investigated the lived experiences of five iSTEM teacher leaders through the thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. Findings identified a range of enablers and inhibitors influence the role of iSTEM teacher leaders, including individual, school and community factors. From these findings, this paper discusses the importance of several key supports for iSTEM teacher leaders including: (1) senior leadership, (2) assorted dispositions, and (3) varied STEM relationships. These insights provide valuable suggestions for school principals and those designing leadership programs for iSTEM teachers as well as propose ideas for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Science & Mathematics Education is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=190589635 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s10763-025-10604-4 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 25 StartPage: 3271 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Teacher leadership Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational leadership Type: general – SubjectFull: STEM occupations Type: general – SubjectFull: Qualitative research Type: general – SubjectFull: Middle school education Type: general – SubjectFull: Interdisciplinary education Type: general – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Understanding the Factors Influencing the Work of Middle Years iSTEM Teacher Leaders. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Stevenson, Emma – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Thompson, Pauline IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 12 Text: Dec2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 15710068 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 23 – Type: issue Value: 8 Titles: – TitleFull: International Journal of Science & Mathematics Education Type: main |
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