Leadership in America’s Best Urban Schools describes and demystifies the qualities that successful leaders rely on to make a difference at all levels of urban school leadership. Grounded in research, this volume reveals the multiple challenges that real urban elementary, middle, and high schools face as well as the catalysts for improvement. This insightful resource explores the critical leadership characteristics found in high-performing urban schools and gives leaders the tools to move their schools to higher levels of achievement for all students—but especially for those who are low-income, English-language learners, and from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. In shining a light on the essential qualities for exceptional leadership at all levels of urban schools, this book is a valuable guide for all educators and administrators to nurture, influence, support, and sustain excellence and equity at their schools.

This authoritative handbook examines the community, district, and teacher leadership roles that affect urban schools. It will serve as a foundation for pedagogical and educational leadership practices that foster social justice, equity, and advocacy for those who have been traditionally and historically underserved in education. The handbook’s ten sections cover topics as diverse as curriculum, instruction, and educational outcomes; gender, race, and class; higher education; and leadership preparation and support. Its twenty-nine chapters offer both American and international perspectives.

The 12 Laws of Urban School Leadership was written to give urban school principals strategies for successfully implementing change, and achieving systemic reforms. The book also gives aspiring and novice principals a window into the real issues that affect the prinicpalship, and the circumstances that can determine success or failure. Veteran principals can also learn how to better deal with some of the most challenging issues associated with students, parents, staff, and community members. This is an essential resource for any school leader working in an urban, or public school setting.

AbstractPointer, Leviticus SeCret. Ed.D. The University of Memphis. December, 2018. Urban School Leadership Preparation Programs Key Factors for Developing School Leaders: What are the key factors Urban School Leadership Preparation Programs use to develop school leaders? Major Professor: Dr. Beverly Cross.This research was designed to identify key factors that are essential for urban school leadership preparation by conducting research, developing proven urban school leadership competencies, and for improving urban school leadership practices which enhance student learning, development and achievement. There was a secondary purpose for this research in determining if culturally relevant leadership practices were utilized as components for the development for urban school leadership preparation. This research provided notable key factors that could impact the development in urban school leaders and as well identified culturally relevant leadership practices that could be utilized in the multifaceted role of being an urban school principal. The top five ranked university urban school leadership preparation programs in 2017's U.S. News World & Report rankings were analyzed through an extensive Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) process. There were two major conclusions in this specific research. The first conclusion provided information in that each program focused on a platform for creating democracy and diminishing marginalization; and creating equity through social justice leadership. The second conclusion was that each program had an exceptional viewpoint for visionary leadership practices that would make society better with adequate preparation. These findings, implications, and recommendations for better preparation for urban school leaders could provide a balanced repertoire set of skills that could assist urban school leaders in becoming successful instructional leaders, community change agents, and social justice leaders through circumspective leadership practices; which ultimately urban school leaders will face in the future of education..

"A must read for practitioners of educational leadership and students alike! Offers powerful strategies, recommendations, and resources to successfully lead school reform. The checklists are invaluable tools to bring about the cultural shift needed to focus all stakeholders on teaching and learning." —Roy F. Davenport, Principal, Alfred E. Beach High School, Savannah, GA Urban principals face unique challenges that deserve unique solutions. How can urban principals meet the challenge of educating students in environments that routinely include poverty, violence, aging infrastructure, lack of funding, cultural differences, and high levels of turnover? This accessible manual offers powerful tools and practical guidance to ensure that urban principals succeed as school leaders. Gwendolyn J. Cooke provides tried-and-true, research-based strategies for initiating, stabilizing, and sustaining effective practices. Each chapter includes reflective thinking activities to help school leaders assess needs, and set and achieve goals. This second edition examines the challenges the current educational environment and links the ISLLC standards to seven keys of leadership: Control: manage the school community by building consensus Caring: create a school climate that invites students to learn, grow, and explore Change: use effective strategies to implement constructive change processes Charisma: cultivate your own charismatic potential Communication: strengthen your ability to communicate in different settings Curriculum: provide instructional leadership by harnessing the power of curriculum Courage: find the courage needed to take risks that will move your school forward Use these proven strategies to increase your leadership capacity and effect real change in your school!

Preparing Principals for a Changing World provides a hands-on resource for creating and implementing effective policies and programs for developing expert school leaders. Written by acclaimed author and educator Linda Darling-Hammond and experts Debra Meyerson, Michelle LaPointe, and Margaret Terry Orr, this important book examines the characteristics of successful educational leadership programs and offers concrete recommendations to improve programs nationwide. In a study funded by the Wallace Foundation, Darling-Hammond and the team examined eight exemplary principal development programs, as well as state policies and principals' experiences across the country. Using the data from the study, they reveal how successful programs are structured, the skills and knowledge participants gain, and what they are able to do in practice as school leaders as a result. What do these exemplary programs have in common? Aggressive recruitment; close ties with schools in the community; on-the-ground training under the wing of expert principals, and a strong emphasis on the cutting-edge theories of instructional and transformational leadership. In addition to highlighting the programs' similarities, the study also explains the differences among the programs and sheds light on the effectiveness of approaches and models from different states and contexts?East, West, North, and South; urban and rural; pre-service and in-service. The authors analyze program outcomes for principals and their schools, including illustrative case studies and educators' voices on the influence of programs' strategies for recruitment, internships, mentoring, and coursework. The ideas and suggestions outlined in Preparing Principals for a Changing World are presented with the goal of increasing the number of highly qualified, thoughtful, and innovative educational leaders.