THE ROLE OF THE REFERENCE GROUPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

The purpose of this work is to present and discuss some results from an investigation aimed at the possible articulations between a professional development program offered by the State of Sao Paulo Educational Bureau through the Reference Groups to school administrative staff - pedagogical coordinators, principals and school district supervisors, and their managing practices in their own school environments as well as in their school district headquarters. The predominant methodological approach was qualitative and exploratory. The data collected derived from observation reports elaborated at Reference Group meetings. Thus, firstly, it is historically contextualized the educational and professional development of public school managers, focusing, more specifically, the State of Sao Paulo. Secondly, it is presented how the Reference Group development program was planned. Finally, some results derived from a preliminary data categorization are presented. Such data confirm that autonomy, participation and democratic management may have been some of the principles underlining the planning of the development program by the State Bureau and that these principles have not oriented the program as it would be expected due to several limitations, mainly the ones imposed by the state school system itself. Despite this fundamental hindrance, it is possible to foresee, even in this initial analysis, some possible links between the professional development program through the Reference Groups and school managing practices.