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Noted scholar Carolyn Shields argues that something is missing amidst the proliferation of new collaborative leadership theories, of professional learning communities, and stronger standards and accountability measures. In the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world (VUCA) of education today, leaders need to take an engaged, activist, and courageous approach to help build optimistic and hopeful futures for all students. Transformative Leadership in Education presents an alternative approach to leadership for deep and equitable change. Rather than just another new theory, "Transformative Leadership" is a substantively different, holistic and integrated approach that unifies ways of thinking about ethics, vision, goals, purposes of schooling and processes of leadership. Using vignettes, stories, research, and drawing on scholarship from a range of disciplines, the concept of transformative leadership is explored and its potential for deep and equitable change is revealed. The numerous existing theories and approaches to leadership are compared and contrasted in their utility for achieving a variety of educational goals. Drawing on examples from transformative school leaders, Shields demonstrates that transformative leadership can promote academic achievement, family and community empowerment, democratic engagement, and global citizenship; it helps educators create learning environments for all that are just and inclusive. Special Features Include:
- End-of-chapter guiding questions to help readers reflect on their own practice and to think about applying the concepts in their own contexts
- Illustrative cases and vignettes
- A robust companion website with extra resources, teaching activities, and video clips of interviews with teachers, refugee students, and homeless students
This exciting text will appeal to leaders who want to be thoughtful, inclusive, and socially just and want to prepare students who will be successful, caring, and engaged citizens of the global community.
List of contents
Introduction: Education in a VUCA World Chapter 1. Transformative Leadership: A Way Forward Chapter 2. Deep and Equitable Change: : A Focus on Emancipation, Democracy, Equity, and Justice Chapter 3. Understanding and Addressing Inequitable Power relations Chapter 4. Individuality and Interconnectedness Chapter 5. Optimism and Courage Conclusion
About the author
Carolyn M. Shields is Professor of Leadership in the Department of Educational Organization and Leadership, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
