Kate Thornton

Kate Thornton is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Victoria University of Wellington, where she has worked since 2004. Her academic career builds on prior experience as a secondary school teacher and professional development facilitator. She serves as a supervisor for Master's and PhD students focusing on leadership topics, and has previously held the position of Head of School. Her teaching portfolio includes courses in the Masters of Secondary School Leadership and Masters of Education programs.

• PhD, Victoria University of Wellington
• MEd, Victoria University of Wellington
• DipTchg(Sec), Victoria University of Wellington
• BSc, Victoria University of Wellington
• CertWorkComm, Victoria University of Wellington

Dr. Thornton's research focuses on educational leadership and leadership development across multiple sectors, with particular emphasis on mentoring and coaching practices, and professional learning communities. Her work explores how leadership is enacted in various educational contexts including secondary schools, early childhood education, and higher education settings. She investigates distributed leadership models, principal preparation pathways, and the impact of crisis situations like the COVID-19 pandemic on school leadership practices. Her research often employs qualitative methodologies, particularly interpretive case studies, and she emphasizes culturally responsive approaches to leadership development in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Her recent publications reveal a strong thematic focus on leadership development in educational contexts, with particular attention to mentoring practices, distributed leadership models, and the challenges of school leadership during crisis situations. The research spans multiple educational sectors including secondary schools, early childhood education, and higher education. Her work demonstrates a consistent methodological preference for qualitative approaches and case study designs, often incorporating Māori perspectives and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in the New Zealand context.

Dr. Thornton actively supervises multiple doctoral and masters students, with current projects examining leadership practices in Bangladesh, Nepal, Cambodia, and Pakistan. Her recent grant activity includes a Mentoring Case Study funded by Victoria University of Wellington in 2024. She serves on editorial boards for the Journal of Education Leadership Policy and Practice and the International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, and provides advisory services to the Education Review Office and New Zealand Teaching Council.