African American Perspectives on Leadership in Schools: Building a Culture of Empowerment

by Lenoar Foster, Linda C. Tillman Ph.D., professor emerita, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Overview

This book fills an educational void in the school leadership literature as it relates to historical, theoretical, intellectual and cultural understandings among those who prepare individuals for leadership in schools and for those who practice leadership in schools attended by significant numbers of African American students. Contributors to this volume are scholars whose research and service in schools have been important in understanding the historical, intellectual and cultural traditions that facilitate and support effective leadership and in schools where African American school leaders, teachers, students, parents, and their communities of support construct effective and productive 'cultures of empowerment and achievement'. It is these cultures that this volume addresses for their efficacy to support, empower, and sustain visible and measurable achievement among African American students.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781607094906
Publisher:	R&L Education
Publication date:	11/16/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	NOOK Book
Pages:	264
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Lenoar Foster was professor and associate dean for administration, research and graduate studies in the College of Education at Washington State University. He held dual professorial appointments in educational leadership (K-12 Administration) and higher education. He passed away just prior to this book's publication. Linda C. Tillman is a professor in the Educational Leadership Program at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Vice President of Division A of the American Educational Research Association. Her research interests include African American principals, parental involvement, and culturally sensitive research approaches.

Table of Contents

3 Introduction
4 The Historical Tradition of African American Leadership in African American Schools: 1830-1955
5 African American Educational Leadership: Critical, Purposive, and Spiritual
6 African-Centered Pedagogy and Womanist Caring: Reclaiming Black Children for Success
7 Facilitating African American Parental Involvement in Urban Schools: Opportunities for School Leadership
8 African American Superintendents Narrowing the Achievement Gap Through Organization Restructuring
9 African American Leadership in Urban Schools: Implications for Organizational Structure and Improved Educational Outcomes
10 Caring Leadership for Troubled African American Adolescents: A Case Study
11 Leadership in K-12 Schools for Promoting Educational Aspirations: A Mental Model for School Achievement
12 Leading Change in the Educational Environment: Creating a Culture of Academic Excellence
13 African American School Leadership in a Policy Context: A Tornado of Private Influence and Interests
14 Toward a Praxis of Antiracist School Leadership Preparation
15 About the Editors
16 About the Contributors
17 Index

Editorial Reviews

This text fills an important void in the literature on how African Americans view effective public school leadership for schools with Black children. The authors provide important insights about concepts on what are the effective leadership behaviors for schools educating African American Children. These leadership behavioral skill sets should help close the academic achievement gap between White and African American children.

Frank Brown

If you care about the education of African American children, read this book! Two highly respected African American scholars collect some of the best indepth scholarly work on African American educational leadership. These scholars cover the history of African American school leadership, critical spirituality, African-centered pedagogy, womanist caring, urban school leadership, African American superintendents, leadership for troubled African American adolescents, critical factors for the underachievement of African American students, cultures of excellence, a critique of whole school reform, and antiracist school leadership preparation-a broad and deep array of topics focused on building 'a culture of empowerment' for African American children, their families, and their communities. This is now the seminal book on African American perspectives on leadership in schools..

Jim Scheurich

We know that leadership makes a difference in students’ learning. With this book, we can better prepare our aspiring leaders to make a difference in African American students’ achievement. The authors not only challenge our conception of today’s school organization and structure but also inspire us to act in new ways to create cultures of achievement for all students.

Nelda Cambron-McCabe

This timely volume contains empirical and theoretical information that will help improve decision-making for school leaders in diverse school settings.

Lamont A. Flowers

This just-released book is a collection of some of the best in-depth scholarly work on African American educational leadership.

Fall 2009 Ucea Reviews