Maria Kaparou

Dr Maria Kaparou is a Lecturer at the Southampton Education School of the University of Southampton. She teaches undergraduate and postgraduate programs while supervising PhD students in educational leadership and management across diverse contexts (UK, Kuwait, Oman, Malaysia). Her work spans instructional leadership, school improvement in Multi-academy Trusts (MATs), and international education policy.

• 2013 University of Warwick Award for Teaching Excellence
• 2022 SUSU nomination for 'Most Engaging Lecturer'
• 2015 BELMAS Best Thesis Award

Maria's research focuses on educational leadership in MATs, school improvement in challenging contexts, and diversity in leadership. Recent projects include a Ambition Institute-funded study on headteacher experiences in underperforming schools and cross-cultural analyses of instructional leadership in Greece and England.

Her publications reveal a strong emphasis on educational reform through leadership frameworks, with particular attention to MATs, international schools, and leadership development in complex environments. Collaborations include Tony Bush, Anthony Kelly, and Christopher Downey.

• 2020: Comparative studies in Oman and England
• 2019: Headteacher transitions in challenging contexts
• 2018: Malaysia education policy analysis

Maria contributes to academic communities as coordinator of the ICSEI MoREI Network, editorial board member of the Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Management, and peer reviewer for journals including Educational Management, Administration and Leadership.