Exploring The Role Of The School Principal In Predominantly White Middle Schools

By detailing an explanatory sequential mixed methods study grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT), this book explores the role of effective educational leadership in developing multicultural acceptance in predominantly white schools. Drawing on the rich experiences and accounts of school principals in rural middle schools in the US, the volume asks how principals’ personal attitudes, professional experiences, and the degree to which they view themselves as a mentor and influencer within the school impacts their approach to improving multicultural understanding amongst students, staff, and faculty. The text is organized into five clear chapters, providing critical reflections, a review of the relevant literature, and in-depth discussion of first-hand data. Six key findings relating to whole-school acceptance, the role of individual principal’s attitudes, and support for teaching staff open new avenues for research and inform recommendations for the professional development of school principals. In presenting key theory and practical implications of research, this book will be crucial reading for researchers, scholars, and practitioners in the fields of educational leadership, multicultural education, sociology of education, and teacher education.

By detailing an explanatory sequential mixed methods study grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT), this book explores the role of effective educational leadership in developing multicultural acceptance in predominantly white schools. Drawing on the rich experiences and accounts of school principals in rural middle schools in the US, the volume asks how principals’ personal attitudes, professional experiences, and the degree to which they view themselves as a mentor and influencer within the school impacts their approach to improving multicultural understanding amongst students, staff, and faculty. The text is organized into five clear chapters, providing critical reflections, a review of the relevant literature, and in-depth discussion of first-hand data. Six key findings relating to whole-school acceptance, the role of individual principal’s attitudes, and support for teaching staff open new avenues for research and inform recommendations for the professional development of school principals. In presenting key theory and practical implications of research, this book will be crucial reading for researchers, scholars, and practitioners in the fields of educational leadership, multicultural education, sociology of education, and teacher education.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the necessity for establishing practical strategic global education collaboration throughout the world. The challenges are serious and come in many forms, including but not limited to educational policies, technology limitations, economic, mental health, linguistic barriers, and power struggles. Undoubtedly, international education has a profound impact on the world community, and both teachers and learners need to equip themselves with global critical ways and skills to navigate all kinds of challenges and bring about positive change in the world. The Role of Educators as Agents and Conveyors for Positive Change in Global Education highlights the role of educators as agents and conveyors for positive change in local, regional, and global arenas. As such, it analyzes various conventional and modern educational and learning theories and teaching pedagogies to promote global citizenship among students and teachers. Covering key topics such as learning engagement, curriculum, and online learning, this reference work is ideal for higher education faculty, administrators, researchers, practitioners, academicians, instructors, and students.

School Leadership for Democratic Education in South Africa explores the democratization and modernization of education in South Africa, analyzing the state of school leadership in South African schools from the time of the new democratic education dispensation in 1994 to the present day. The book maps out what the future of education in South Africa could look like and explores the most conducive educational environments for change in South African schools. It adopts a critical approach to analyzing leadership and management in the context of school governance, school effectiveness, teacher development, multiculturalism and equity in education. Contributions explore the democratization and modernization of education in South Africa through examining different perspectives, achievements and challenges, and also consider issues around access to technology, language policy and the curriculum along with new literature on selected aspects of leadership. This book will be of great interest for researchers, scholars, and students in the fields of educational leadership, sociology of education, and teacher education.

Education’s role should further social justice, prepare students to compete for higher social positions, train workers, and engage students so that they become active participants in a democratic society. However, as with many global systems, education has long ago fallen victim to the institutional ailments of systematic oppression and discrimination. In order to promote equity and social justice in education, it is paramount that educators and administrators acknowledge systematic challenges in education and the solutions. The Handbook of Research on Solutions for Equity and Social Justice in Education discusses how teachers and school administrators practice equity and inclusion in their schools. It provides examples of social justice and how it affects society, as well as specific case studies that aim at engendering equity and inclusion for minorities. It further discusses these issues in a global context. Covering topics such as agentic empowerment, social justice in dialogue, and teacher social justice advocacy, this major reference work is a critical resource for faculty and administrators of both K-12 and higher education, preservice teachers, teacher educators, school social workers and counselors, librarians, government officials, researchers, and academicians.

This book examines the theoretical foundations relevant to existential issues in educational leadership and management, taking inspiration from Munch’s painting The Scream. The book considers internationally relevant topics such as the growth of neoliberalism, globalisation, cultural shifts, forced migration and the digitalisation of the socio-cultural sphere and uniquely positions these crises as existential threats, rather than simply political, cultural, or social. The volume explores this complex set of dimensions in existential experience and outlines the implications for research and teaching in educational leadership. By exemplifying the narrative and introspective nature of existential research, the book addresses major aspects of the field including the impact such threats have on organisational studies, policy, administrative structures and practices, and leadership. This timely collection on existential issues in administration and leadership will appeal to academics, scholars, researchers, practitioners and policy-makers. It will also be of great interest for students in teacher education programmes and graduate courses in educational administration and leadership, organisation studies, and educational ethics for broad international use.

This book explores the theoretical and practical implications of a global resurgence of populism on educational leadership. Drawing together a wide range of international authors, it examines how socio-cultural and political populist developments affect educational policies, organisations, and administration around the world. The collection addresses the forms and meanings of populism and examines their influence on education systems and institutions. It includes theoretical perspectives and rich examples from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Hungary, Nicaragua, the UK, and the US, exploring the complex influences and effects of populism on education policy, politics, and institutions in these countries. These include attacks on initiatives promoting equity and inclusion, the repression of academic freedom, the erosion of institutional autonomy from partisan political direction, and the suppression of evidence and expertise in policy and curriculum development. With its international and multidisciplinary outlook, this book will be highly relevant reading for researchers, scholars, and students in the fields of educational leadership and administration, higher education, and education policy, as well as those interested in the contemporary manifestations of populism on education.

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, recent long-term policy plans emphasize the ever-increasing need to transition to 21st-century skills and achieve sustainable development goals by preparing highly qualified nationals with credentials in STEM fields relevant to the current and future needs of the labor market. Yet, despite multiple educational reforms and substantial resources, national and international indicators of student performance still demonstrate insignificant improvement in MENA students’ achievement in STEM subjects. STEM Education Approaches and Challenges in the MENA Region contributes to the existing STEM literature by exploring factors that influence student participation in STEM in MENA countries. The book also identifies the gaps in STEM education research in MENA countries and presents the current practices and challenges. Covering key topics such as gender equity, school administration, and education systems, this premier reference source is ideal for administrators, policymakers, researchers, scholars, academicians, practitioners, instructors, and students.