The School Leaders Our Children Deserve (seven Keys To Equity, Social Justice, And School Reform)

By (author) Theoharis George; Foreword by Tredway Lynda
Short description/annotation:
An updated edition of the bestselling seminal book on school leadership, equity, and social justice. Drawing on the experiences and words of successful public-school principals, Theoharis shows why social justice leadership is needed and how it can be effective in creating more equitable schools.
Description:

This is the updated edition of the bestselling seminal book on school leadership, equity, and social justice. Drawing on the experiences and words of successful public school principals, Theoharis shows why social justice leadership is needed and how it can be effective in creating more equitable schools. Although they faced tremendous barriers, the principals featured in this book made important strides toward closing the outcome and opportunity gaps in their schools by using inclusive, equitable practices. Featuring a mix of theory and practical strategies, this edition has been updated with new examples and frameworks relevant to today’s leaders. Responding to the current context of national resistance to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, this timely book portrays how real school leaders seek, create, and sustain equitable schools, especially for marginalized students.

The School Leaders Our Children Deserve identifies seven keys that are crucial for social justice leadership:

Key 1: Acquire Broad, Reconceptualized Consciousness/Knowledge/Skill Base

Key 2: Possess Core Leadership Traits

Key 3: Advance Inclusion, Access, and Opportunity for All

Key 4: Improve the Core Learning Context—Both the Teaching and the Curriculum

Key 5: Create a Climate of Belonging

Key 6: Increase Student Learning

Key 7: Sustain Oneself Professionally and Personally

Book Features:

• Grounds the lofty ideals of equity and social justice in the daily work of school leadership.
• Provides rich and abundant examples, ideas, and strategies for how to be a school leader committed to issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Includes a new focus on culturally sustaining leadership and how disability studies inform practice.
• Offers an examination of how leaders conduct equity audits to improve outcomes for minoritized students.
• Shows how leaders navigate challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in their communities.

Table of contents:

Contents

Acknowledgments  xi

Foreword by Lynda Tredway  xv

Note on Methodology  xxi

1.  School Leadership and Social Justice  1
Disparate Educational Opportunities  5
Social Justice Leadership as a Necessary Alternative to School-as-Usual  10
Organization and Content of the Book  14
A Framework for Social Justice Leadership  16
Conclusion  19

2.  The Seven Social Justice Principals and Their Schools  21
Introducing the Principals and Their Schools  21
Conclusion  29

3.  “There Is No Social Justice Without Inclusion”: Advancing Inclusion, Access, and Opportunity for All  31
The Connection Between Inclusion and Social Justice  34
Strategies That Advanced Inclusion, Access, and Opportunity for All  35
Conclusion  50

4.  “Changing How We Teach, What We Teach, and How We Approach Schooling”: Improving the Core Learning Context  53
The Connection Between Improving the Core Learning Context and Social Justice  54
Strategies to Improve the Core Learning Context—Both the Teaching and the Curriculum  55
Conclusion  72

5.  “Connecting and Respecting”: Creating a Climate of Belonging  75<