Experiences of School Principals With Newcomers from War-Affected Countries in Africa

This article is based on the results of an exploratory study of experiences of 2 urban school principals about leading schools with immigrants from war-affected countries in Africa. It examines how they perceived their preparation for multicultural leadership, and explores lessons that leadership development institutions can learn from their experiences. Data from in-depth interviews revealed that the principals felt inadequately prepared to work with this minority group. With the influx of immigrants in schools, it is vital that leadership development institutions develop pragmatic approaches for preparing principals to work with second language learners, particularly those who face psychosocial challenges arising from experiences with war, poverty, or living in communities where they are prone to crime.