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The Principal as Leader of the Equitable School
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The Principal as Leader of the Equitable School



August 2012 | 176 pages | Corwin

Equitable schools equal high achievement for all students!

The Principal as Leader of the Equitable School is an invaluable book that provides an expanding awareness of equity issues to not only principals and district leaders, but also school equity committees. From the novice to the experienced school leader, readers will discover how to create a learning community that erases achievement gaps and welcomes students of all backgrounds, including students of color, students with disabilities, and students of poverty. This new volume in the Leading Achievement Series provides action steps for:

  • Establishing a climate that promotes equity
  • Empowering and supervising staff to accelerate change
  • Garnering support and involvement from students and the community
  • Assessing progress toward equity and sustaining growth

Offering reader-friendly tools for reflection, case studies, and action items, The Principal as Leader of the Equitable School helps you transform equity issues into successful outcomes for all learners.


 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
1. Why Leading for Equity and Diversity Is Important
Current Contexts

 
The Moral Imperative

 
Knowledge, Difference, and Diversity

 
Frameworks for Action

 
Chapter Summary

 
Case Study: Negotiating Barriers to Student Success

 
Reflection Activity

 
Principals' Action Steps

 
 
2. Leading the Equitable School: Foundational Understandings
Purposes of Education

 
Exclusion and Oppression

 
Power

 
Privilege

 
Working in Systems of Accountability

 
Inclusive Leadership

 
Chapter Summary

 
Case Study: The Field Trip Plan

 
Reflection Activity

 
Principals' Action Steps

 
 
3. The Personal Journey
Social and Cultural Identities

 
(De)constructing Narratives

 
Stalking Our Stories: Unearthing, Unraveling, Understanding, and Unfolding

 
Acknowledging Your Power

 
Awareness and Reflection

 
Learning for Inclusivity and Collaboration

 
Chapter Summary

 
Case Study: An Early Story of School

 
Reflection Activity

 
Principals' Action Steps

 
 
4. Creating a School Climate That Promotes Equity
School Climate and Leadership

 
School Climate and Family and Community Partnerships

 
School Climate and Expectations for Students

 
School Climate and Student Outcomes

 
Chapter Summary

 
Case Study: Prevention Is the Key

 
Reflection Activity

 
Principals' Action Steps

 
 
5. Working With Staff
Being Strategic

 
Norms of Operation

 
Facilitating Courageous Conversations

 
Catalysts for Discussion

 
Understanding Communication Styles

 
Dealing With Overt Acts of Harassment

 
Culturally Relevant and Responsive Pedagogy

 
Inclusive Approaches to Supervision

 
Chapter Summary

 
Case Study: "Stuck" in the Library

 
Reflection Activity: Critically Questioning Daily Practices

 
Principals' Action Steps

 
 
6. Working With Students
Inclusive Curriculum

 
The Mirrors and Windows Concept

 
Student Leadership and Voice

 
Social Justice Initiatives

 
Honoring Noncurricular Skills and Contributions

 
Chapter Summary

 
Case Study: What's it all About?

 
Reflection Activity

 
Principals' Action Steps

 
 
7. Working With Community
What Is a Family?

 
School, Family, and Community Partnerships

 
Articulating a Vision for Parent Engagement

 
Getting to Know Your Community

 
Building Communication

 
Capacity Building for Family and Community Engagement and Partnerships

 
Reducing and Eliminating Barriers

 
Chapter Summary

 
Case Study: Trouble With Penguins

 
Reflection Activity 1

 
Reflection Activity 2

 
Principals' Action Steps

 
 
8. Assessing Progress
Equity and Reflective Practice

 
The Equity Walk

 
 
Tools and Resources
Equity Walk Matrix and Reflective Questions

 
Six Levels of Workplace Cultural Proficiency (Workplace and School Settings)

 
Stalking Our Stories, Knowing Our Selves

 
Building a Cultural Profile

 
Ladder of Inference

 
James A. Banks's Inclusive Curriculum Framework

 
Acknowledging Power Wheel

 
 
References
 
Index

"This book gives the school leader many opportunities for examining practice and encouraging change in the way our schools relate to students and the school community at large. Even if it only helps the school leader make a single positive change for a student or group at the school, it will have been worth the time spent."

Cathy Patterson, 5th Grade Teacher
Walnut Valley USD, Walnut, CA
Key features
  • A discussion of the link between equitable schools and student achievement is threaded throughout the book, with consideration of how equity initiatives encourage student success and how they mesh with literacy and numeracy standards
  • End-of-chapter reflection/action templates include guiding questions, templates for reflection, and strategies for putting reflection into action
  • Case studies illuminate the topics discussed in each chapter and portray all members of the school community—from students and teachers to parents and community players
  • A "Personal Journey" chapter focuses on the personal journey of educational leaders that strive to do authentic equity work in their schools and explores how to go about starting an internal journey of personal reflection and transformation
  • A variety of theoretical frameworks on equity and inclusion are presented for a balanced approach, including among them the Cultural Proficiency Framework, The James Banks Model, and James Ryan's Inclusive Leadership Model
  • A chapter on assessment provides tools and a vision/image of what equitable schools look like in several dimensions

For instructors

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ISBN: 9781452283449

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ISBN: 9781412981170
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This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.