Jo Hart is a Graduate Researcher at Deakin University and Director of Formation & Culture at Edmund Rice Education Australia. Jo has dedicated her career to fostering environments where values, identity, and social justice are at the heart of learning. Her research focuses on educational administration, management and leadership, and exploring strategies that enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of educational systems.

Her PhD project ‘Leadership for Social Justice in Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders’, aims to contribute to understandings of educational leadership by researching the experiences of a diverse group of leaders. Here she discusses the challenges of juggling work, life and a PhD; and her hope that her research will help develop leaders committed to advancing social justice in education.

Describe your project and why you chose this topic

Underpinned by a critical feminist postcolonial approach, this research is exploring how the intersectional social relations of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, class and faith influence the nature and experience of leadership within a global network of Catholic schools committed to a social justice agenda. It aims to contribute to understandings of educational leadership by researching the experiences of a diverse group of leaders (those in principal, deputy-principal roles and educational system leadership roles) from a variety of cultural and geographical locations.

I chose this topic as I am a system leader (and have been a school leader) within this network of schools – Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders (EREBB). I have found that the research to date into leadership in Edmund Rice schools has largely been carried out by male researchers in and from western contexts (mainly Australia, North America and Ireland) through non-critical theoretical approaches. In addition, leadership perspectives presented at EREBB symposiums and conferences I’ve attended have largely been from minority western world, male perspectives.

My tentative hypothesis is that school and system leaders within EREBB have different leadership experiences shaped by their intersectional identity and the power dynamics at play in the Church, charism (Edmund Rice founding story), state and local community. I am also exploring their varied understandings of education for social justice and their leadership to enact this EREBB commitment as influenced by their experience of leading within these contexts.

What kind of impact do you hope to achieve—either in policy or practice?

This diversity of leadership experiences and approaches will provide understandings of the complexities of leadership within EREBB and Catholic congregational schools which have not yet been well explored. I hope that this research provides new or divergent perspectives which may challenge narrow or singular perspectives, or assumptions, about what education for social justice means in Catholic schools.

I also hope the knowledge shared through this research assists in the development of leaders within EREBB and other Catholic school networks who lead with an expansive vision of education for social justice.

Can you tell us about your academic and professional background?

While teaching and being in school leadership for 13 years I completed a Graduate Certificate in Teaching Religious Education and a Master of Arts (Theology). I concluded my masters with a research essay focused on moral theology and anthropology.

For the last 10 years, I have worked as a system leader across a national network of schools, leading professional development and formation for school leaders and staff, assisting them to understand what it means to lead, teach and work in an Edmund Rice school. I have also had a number of opportunities to engage both in person and online with other members of the EREBB global community of school leaders through a range of programs.

Why did you choose Deakin for your PhD research?

The advice I was given was to find my supervisor and that would tell me which university to apply to. As I was preparing to apply, I reached out to a few people for advice about supervisors, reading lists and universities and I was sent a couple of articles by Professor Jill Blackmore. I had also attended a workshop presented by Professor Amanda Keddie at a work conference that made me very interested in her work. I was keen to ensure I was going to be challenged to think differently and critically by my supervisors so I applied to Deakin as I believed that Jill and Amanda would do this for me.

How has your experience with your supervisors been?

My experience has been very positive. I now have a third supervisor, Dr Katrina MacDonald and between Jill, Amanda and Katrina, I have been challenged to explore new perspectives and sit with the complexities of the research, such as, the challenges and opportunities of my positionality as an insider researcher, exploring social justice in institutions where abuse was part of their history.

I have also received many recommended readings, useful feedback on the direction the research has taken, my writing and key questions. They are very supportive and encouraging.

How have you managed juggling life/work/study during your PhD?

It’s not been an easy journey as my work has become more challenging particularly post COVID, with increased responsibility and workload. I have managed at times to make good progress, and other times get bogged down. I have twice had to take intermission leave when work required me to step up to cover others. It seems that just when one thing gets more complex i.e. work, so too does family life. Having enough energy is as much a challenge as finding time. When I do get stuck in, I find it very enjoyable and intellectually challenging.

What has been a highlight of your PhD?

The thoughtful responses that have been provided by participants in the first round of data gathering.

What are your plans after completing your PhD?

Find an island with a beach and cocktails? Sorry – couldn’t help that. I hope to share the research through academic articles and presenting at conferences relevant to the work. I will also be utilising the research to inform the approach to leadership development for the work I do in systems leadership.

PhD