The School Leaders Our Children Deserve

Book excerpt: 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 BaseKey 2: Possess Core Leadership TraitsKey 3: Advance Inclusion, Access, and Opportunity for AllKey 4: Improve the Core Learning Context—Both the Teaching and the CurriculumKey 5: Create a Climate of Belonging Key 6: Increase Student LearningKey 7: Sustain Oneself Professionally and Personally. PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION— “Theoharis does a beautiful job at marrying research with practical application that can be utilized by school administrators.” —Journal of Educational Administration “Presents a hopeful, humanistic, and democratic approach to school reform that many will no doubt wish to replicate.” —American School Board Journal “An important book that deserves a wide readership.” —Michael W. Apple