Alma Harris

"If leadership is influence we all have it, question is what we do with it. I suggest connect, act and influence."

Dr. Alma Harris (FRSA) is Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at the Department of Education, University of Bath. Previously, she held professorial posts at the University of Warwick, University College London and the University of Malaya. She is internationally known for her research and writing on educational leadership and school improvement. In 2009–2012, she was appointed to the Welsh Government as a senior policy adviser to assist with the process of system-wide reform. She co-led the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) programme with Dr. Michelle Jones and also led on the development and implementation of a Master’s qualification for all newly qualified teachers in Wales. Since 2009, she has worked for the World Bank contributing to development and research programmes aimed at supporting schools in challenging contexts in Russia. Professor Harris is a Visiting Professor at the Moscow Higher School of Economics and the University of Southampton. Dr. Harris is Past President of the International Congress for School Effectiveness and School Improvement (ICSEI), which is an organisation dedicated to enhancing quality and equity in education. In January 2016, she received the ICSEI honorary lifetime award. She is currently an international adviser to the First Minister of Scotland

What topics and genres does Alma Harris write about?

Alma Harris writes non-fiction, research-informed books on educational leadership and school improvement, including distributed leadership, teacher leadership, building leadership capacity, school turnaround and professional learning communities.

Which of her books is best to start with?

Choose based on your interest: for an introduction to distributed leadership try Distributed Leadership Matters or Distributed School Leadership: Developing Tomorrow's Leaders; for school improvement practice try Building Leadership Capacity for School Improvement or Leading School Turnaround.

Are her books more academic or practical?

Her books bridge research and practice: they are grounded in academic research but written for researchers, school leaders, policymakers and practitioners, often offering practical frameworks and strategies.

Is there a recommended reading order for her books or are they standalone?

There is no strict series order; most titles are standalone. You can read them by theme (e.g., distributed leadership, teacher leadership, school turnaround) depending on the topic you want to explore.

Has Alma Harris received notable awards or recognition?

Yes. She is Past President of the International Congress for School Effectiveness and School Improvement (ICSEI) and received the ICSEI honorary lifetime award in January 2016. She is also FRSA, has held senior advisory roles (including to the Welsh Government), worked with the World Bank, and holds visiting professorships.