This study sought to understand and illuminate the distinctive nature of the role of educational leader in preschool settings. Research regarding the educational leader role is limited, and in preschool settings it is scant. The theory of practice architecture was applied as an analytical framework to investigate how educational leaders of New South Wales preschools enacted their role. This article discusses phase 1 of a mixed method study which surveyed 153 preschool educational leaders. The findings indicated that preschool educational leaders were experienced, educated and enacted their roles in varied ways. They frequently used practices that were informal and collaborative, responding to their unique contexts and situations.

中文翻译：

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学龄前教育领袖：他们是谁，他们在做什么？

这项研究试图了解并阐明教育领导者在学龄前环境中的独特作用。关于教育领导者角色的研究是有限的，在学前环境中很少。实践构架理论被用作分析框架，以调查新南威尔士州学前班的教育领导者如何发挥作用。本文讨论了混合方法研究的第一阶段，该研究对153名学前教育领导者进行了调查。调查结果表明，学龄前教育领导者经历了丰富的经验，受过教育并以各种方式发挥了作用。他们经常使用非正式和协作的做法，以响应其独特的环境和情况。