The Manifestation of Spirituality in Special Education Leaders

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-209
Author(s):  
Merritt F. Waters ◽  
Catherine E. Hackney
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Professional Organization ◽  
Special Education Leadership ◽  
Education Experience ◽  
Education Professional ◽  
Education Leaders ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Creating Meaning ◽  
Journal Entries

The challenges of special education leadership require both inspiration and capacity. This qualitative study of a purposeful sample of members of a Midwestern special education professional organization explores how leaders in special education experience spirituality in their work—creating meaning, leading/supporting others, and coping with workplace demands. In response to internal and external struggles, analysis of interviews and journal entries shows spiritually inclined special education leaders cultivate a sense of gratitude, which flows into a cycle with trust. This choice leads to fulfilled feelings from enacting their values, rich collaboration, and success with integrating work into a balanced life. These findings suggest that prospective and current special education leaders can benefit from engaging in a spiritual perspective toward work.

Leading through a critical lens: The application of DisCrit in framing, implementing and improving equity driven, educational systems for all students

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 489-505
Author(s):  
Elizabeth B. Kozleski ◽  
Inna Stepaniuk ◽  
William Proffitt
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Organizational Systems ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Transformative Change ◽  
Special Education Leadership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Education Leaders

PurposeThis article focuses on the strategic importance of framing cultural changes in special education through a critical lens. The article explores why cultural responsivity must be understood from a critical perspective that accounts for the historical sedimentation of racism that exists within special education organizational policies and practices. This sedimentation affects current and future organizational features that sustain historical, persistent and pernicious racial and ableist structures, relationships and outcomes.Design/methodology/approachBy examining the role of power within organizational systems, the authors trace its contribution to reproduction of these systems through special education leadership. Special education leaders along with their peers in general education can frame transformative change through a systemic lens designed to address structural, regulatory and cultural practices that perpetuate raced and ableist outcomes. The pernicious and sustaining structures and practices that have created unequal outcomes in our educational systems need strategic intervention, prevention and re-creation to create equitable supports and services programs.FindingsBy examining the role of power within organizational systems, the authors trace its contribution to reproduction of these systems through special education leadership. Special education leaders along with their peers in general education can frame transformative change through a systemic lens designed to address structural, regulatory and cultural practices that perpetuate raced and ableist outcomes.Practical implicationsWith clear outcomes that are responsive to all students, including those identified with dis/abilities, education leaders can make consequential shifts in access, opportunity and the distribution of social and intellectual capital throughout education.Social implicationsThe pernicious and sustaining structures and practices that have created unequal outcomes in our educational systems need strategic intervention, prevention and re-creation to create equitable supports and services programs.Originality/valueThe application of DisCrit to educational leadership practices offers an opportunity to frame leadership through a powerful equity lens.

Experience of Stress and Coping Strategies among Pastors’ Wives in China

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara Chan ◽  
Miranda Wong
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Financial Stress ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Role Expectations ◽  
The West ◽  
Experience Of Stress ◽  
And Coping

A qualitative study was conducted to examine the experience of stress and coping strategies among 15 pastors’ wives from a city in mainland China. Results indicated that nearly all interviewees experienced financial stress and loneliness, a phenomenon consistent with that seen in literature in the West. However, stress arising from role expectations among the spouses’ congregations was low. Most interviewees coped with stress through family and social support, as well as through praying.

scholarly journals Scale of professional ethics for individuals working in the field of special education: validity and reliability study

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonul Akcamete ◽  
Nilay Kayhan ◽  
A. Emel Sardohan Yildirim
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Professional Ethics ◽  
Professional Associations ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
Quality Of Services ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Education Professional ◽  
Validity Studies

Professional ethics includes the principles set forth by professional associations and accepted as correct by discussions over time, and which has become the sine qua non of a profession today. Professional ethics are established to increase the quality of professional practices and ensure correct and honest conduct. Not having professional ethical principles for the special education field negatively affects the quality of services. The purpose of this study was to develop a scale of principles in professional ethics for specialists and educators working in special education and to conduct its validity and reliability studies. For construct validity studies following Kaiser-Meyer Olkin test, factor analysis was performed. The analysis showed that ethical principles were gathered in two dimensions as ‘importance and compliance of colleagues’ and had a two-way Likert type. The findings showed that the scale is a valid and reliable tool that can be used in special education.   Keywords: Special education, individuals working in special education, professional ethics, ethical principles

Latino sexual minority men’s intersectional minority stress, general stress, and coping during COVID-19: A rapid qualitative study

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Audrey Harkness ◽  
Elliott R. Weinstein ◽  
Pranusha Atuluru ◽  
Daniel Hernandez Altamirano ◽  
Ronald Vidal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
General Stress ◽  
And Coping

Culturally Competent Practices and Implications for Special Education Leaders

2019 ◽  
pp. 141-166
Author(s):  
Katherine Sprott ◽  
Clementine Msengi
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
Educational Leaders ◽  
Effective Instruction ◽  
Academic Standards ◽  
Frames Of Reference ◽  
Culturally Competent ◽  
Education Leaders ◽  
Unites States ◽  
Cultural Frames

The over-identification of minorities in special education in the Unites States continues to exist. Such over-representation separates these students from their general education peers to the degree that they may not have access to challenging academic standards and effective instruction. Factors impacting these students include a systemic lack of understanding of cultural frames of reference and curriculum and leadership issues that influence the referral and placement processes in special education. This chapter will address the five culturally competent practices with regard to inclusion and special education. Implications for educational leaders will be discussed.

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