Content-Specific Leadership: Identifying Literature-Based Implications for Principal Preparation

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-282
Author(s):  
Kathleen M. W. Cunningham ◽  
Chad R. Lochmiller

Principals are increasingly called upon to support effective instruction and student learning across content areas. Content and process standards emphasize the need for leadership that addresses teachers’ pedagogical and content understandings. The purpose of this article is to conceptualize content-specific leadership in mathematics and science for considerations for preparation programs through a systematic literature review. Prior research suggests both the importance of leadership development related to content-specific leadership practices and the possibilities associated with distributed leadership models aimed at the improvement of mathematics and science instruction. Specifically, leadership preparation programs must equip and support principals to make strategic school-based investments in mathematics and science instruction.

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. DeMatthews ◽  
Stephen Kotok ◽  
Amy Serafini

This qualitative study examines the preservice learning experiences of principals who created inclusive schools for students with disabilities. Two research questions guided the study: (1) How do successful principals describe their university-based principal preparation in the area of special education as well as leading inclusive schools for students with disabilities? and (2) What are the leadership practices, skills, and beliefs principals identify that are central to leading special education and inclusive reforms and how were they learned? Findings focus on principal beliefs and values, knowledge and expertise, and instructional leadership practices. The article concludes with implications for leadership preparation programs.


Author(s):  
Bruce G. Barnett ◽  
Nathern S.A. Okilwa

For over 50 years, school leadership preparation and development has been a priority in the United States; however, since the turn of the century, school systems, universities, and professional associations around the world have become more interested in developing programs to prepare aspiring school leaders and support newly appointed and experienced principals. This increased global attention to leadership development has arisen because public or government school leaders are being held accountable for improving student learning outcomes for an increasingly diverse set of learners. Because school leadership studies have been dominated by American researchers, global program providers tend to rely on Western perspectives, concepts, and theories, which may not accurately reflect local and national cultural norms and values. As such, calls for expanding research studies in non-Western societies are increasing. Despite relying on Western-based leadership concepts, leadership preparation programs outside the United States differ substantially. Cultural norms and values, infrastructure support, and social and economic conditions influence the availability and types of programs afforded to aspiring and practicing school leaders. As a result, there is a continuum of leadership development systems that range from: (a) mandatory, highly regulated, and well-resourced comprehensive programs for preservice qualification, induction for newly appointed principals, and in-service for practicing school leaders to (b) non-mandatory, minimally regulated, and moderately resourced programs to determine eligibility for positions and induction to the role to (c) non-mandatory, poorly regulated, and under-resourced programs, which are offered infrequently, require long distance travel, and participants costs are not covered.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon D. Kruse ◽  
Katherine C. Rodela ◽  
Kristin S. Huggins

Research into equity leadership has been a growing focus within educational leadership. Few studies explore the role of the superintendent in equity work. Drawing from interview data and observation of monthly regional leadership meetings, this article examines how 12 superintendents describe their equity leadership practices. Focusing on the ways their practice is evidenced across public and private domains of talk and action, we employ the term “messy messages” to communicate the complex, fluid, and uncomfortable nature of this work. Discussion illustrates the complexity of district equity advocacy, and increasing need for social justice education in superintendent leadership preparation programs.


Author(s):  
Sonya Douglass Horsford ◽  
Dessynie D. Edwards ◽  
Judy A. Alston

Research on Black women superintendents has focused largely on their racial and gendered identities and the challenges associated with negotiating the politics of race and gender while leading complex school systems. Regarding the underrepresentation of Black female superintendents, an examination of Black women’s experiences of preparing for, pursuing, attaining, and serving in the superintendency may provide insights regarding their unique ways of knowing and, leading that, inform their leadership praxis. Informed by research on K-12 school superintendency, race and gender in education leadership, and the lived experiences and knowledge claims of Black women superintendents, important implications for future research on the superintendency will be hold. There exists a small but growing body of scholarly research on Black women education leaders, even less on the Black woman school superintendent, who remains largely underrepresented in education leadership research and the field. Although key studies have played an important role in establishing historical records documenting the service and contributions of Black women educational leaders in the United States, the bulk of the research on Black women superintendents can be found in dissertation studies grounded largely in the works of Black women education leadership scholars and practitioners. As a growing number of aspiring and practicing leaders who identify as Black women enter graduate-level leadership preparation programs and join the ranks of educational administration, questions concerning race and gender in leadership are almost always present as the theories presented in leadership preparation programs often conflict with or represent set of perspectives, realities, and strategies that may not align with those experienced by leaders who identify as Black women. For these reasons, their leadership perspectives, epistemologies, and contributions are essential to our understanding of the superintendency and field of educational leadership.


1998 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 280-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula A. Cordeiro

This paper presents a model for learning in an educational leadership preparation program. The model depicts various types of teaching and learning strategies that should be included in preparation programs in order for students to learn declarative, procedural, and contextual knowledge. Specifically, the paper describes four types of problem-based learning (PBL). Grounded in research on group problem solving, reflective thinking, problem complexity, and feedback and assessment, PBL has considerable potential to increase the transfer of learning. The paper maintains that real and simulated PBL afford students opportunities to learn all three types of knowledge. Two examples capturing the process of how PBL can be used are offered.


Author(s):  
Enoch O. Antwi. EdD.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the promise of today and future businesses. Any leadership development model that ignores AI could miss out on modern business tools, technology, and resources. Though evaluations in developing business leaders present a positive relationship between AI and leadership development (Husain, 2017; Reese, 2018; Hosanagar, 2019), not many studies have been conducted in these areas. With Roomba Robots listening to social media and iRobot’s identifying customers and reaching out to them through private channels (Carr, 2011), a question arises: will AI be required to use business leadership practices in solving applicable challenges, or it will just be a marketing tool? Leadem (2017) quoted Colin Angle, iRobot’s founder, and CEO in an Entrepreneur Magazine, “I have been able to remain CEO, not because of the fact I was CEO yesterday, but because I've worked very hard to listen, learn and evolve in the seat." Developing business leaders could be rooted in AI knowledge, applicability, challenges, and solutions while paying attention to the three keywords of listening, learning, and evolving in leadership.


1998 ◽  
Vol 82 (602) ◽  
pp. 26-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry A. Peel ◽  
Corinna Wallace ◽  
Kermit G. Buckner ◽  
Steven L. Wrenn ◽  
Ralph Evans

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gladys Asuga ◽  
Scott Eacott ◽  
Jill Scevak

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the quality of the current provision for school leadership in Kenya, the extent to which they have an impact on student outcomes and the return on school leadership preparation and development investment. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws from educational leadership, management and administration courses delivered by universities and other institutions to aspiring and practising educational leaders in Kenya. It employs a method for evaluating return on leadership development investment first articulated by Eacott (2013). Findings – While there is growth in provision, consistent with international trends, this provision is more recognised for its standardisation than points of distinction; there is minimal attention to identified dimensions of leadership leading to higher student outcomes which raises questions regarding the universality of school leadership preparation and development curriculum; and the high course costs of current provision is an inhibiting factor in assessing the return on investment in school leadership preparation and development. Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to publicly available documents from a limited sample of institutions. There is a need for more studies in the area. Practical implications – Institutions seeking to offer school leadership development have grounds on which to make decision about what programs their school leaders should undertake in terms of cost and quality. The study provides institution offering school leadership development courses evidence on which to base future policy direction. Social implications – The findings provide a case for investing in school leadership development given the impact courses may have on student outcomes. Originality/value – The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current provision on school leadership preparation and development in Kenya. It contributes to its understanding in Africa in terms of quality, performance impact and return on investment.


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