Leadership for Equity and Excellence

'I feel it makes a contribution to the field in that it brings into focus the many aspects of equity and equality in one source. It makes an excellent base for some meaningful discussion of these issues by those working with aspiring educator leaders as well as those already in the field' - Deborah A Drugan, Principal General, John J Stefanik Elementary School, Chicopee, MA NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals) District Principal What sets this book apart from other writing about school leadership and successful schools is the authors' unflinching belief that there is great hope, in the midst of great hypocrisy, that American schools can narrow and eventually eliminate the achievement gap. James Joesph Scheurich and Linda Skrla make clear that there should be only one agenda for every classroom, school, and district in America. All students, regardless of culture, races, ethnicity, economics, language, gender, and lifestyle must be educated to attain well-defined high standards of learning. The authors demonstrate how leaders in such schools mobilize faculty, staff, and community to openly study inequities among students and how standards, curriculum, and assessments are used as levers for identifying and improving student achievement. They describe how leaders promote purposeful and collaborative classrooms among teachers, administrators, and parents to improve instruction, create with others a climate of care, and use accountability and "equity audits" to continuously scan for inequities across multiple domains of student learning and activities. This book is both eloquent in its simplicity to understand and deeply moving in its call to action. It will provide you with a world of practice - drawn from schools, faculty, and leaders who make the belief, the practice of their work