School Leadership and Administration: Important Concepts, Case Studies, and Simulations

This text helps prospective and experienced principals, administrators, and supervisors increase their knowledge and skills through concepts, case-studies, and simulations. Part I presents important theoretical concepts and research findings that can improve educators’ problem-solving and leadership effectiveness. Part II consists of over 65 reality-based case studies, “In-Basket Exercises,” simulations, and role-plays to illustrate problems and issues. The case studies, simulations, and exercises stimulate class discussion and reflection on key issues facing today’s school administrator and offer guidelines for thoughtful problem-solving and resolution.

Richard A. Gorton received his doctorate from Stanford University, majoring in school administration. His Bachelors Degree in Political Science and his Masters Degree in Counseling and Guidance were conferred by the University of Iowa. Dr. Gortons school experience includes teaching, counseling and guidance, and administration. He was Department Chairperson and Professor of Administrative Leadership and Supervision at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. He is currently a consultant with Gorton Associates in San Diego, California. A leader in state and national administrator orga-nizations, Dr. Gorton has collaborated on a national study of the effective principal. Because of his expertise and practical experience, he has frequently been called on as a consultant and workshop leader in the areas of teacher and administrator evaluation, in-service education, program evaluation, instructional supervision, student disciplinary problems, school-community relations, problem solving, and conflict resolution. Dr. Gorton has published two textbooks, two monographs, and over 100 articles, book reviews, and abstracts on a variety of topics related to educational administration and supervision, as well as education in general. Dr. Gortons other textbook for which he was senior author, School-Based Leadership. Challenges and Opportunities, is used in nu-merous university courses devoted to administrator preparation and by school districts for in-service education. He has also served as senior editor for The Ency-clopedia of School Administration and Supervision.

Judy A. Alston received her Ph.D. at the Pennsylvania State University, two master's degrees at the University of South Carolina, and her bachelor's degree in English from Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Prior to teaching in the academy, she was a high school English teacher/teacher-leader in the public school system in South Carolina. Currently Dr. Alston holds the positions of Associate Dean and Director of the Center for Education at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Widener, she served as the Chair of the Division of Educational Administration and Leadership Studies at Bowling Green State University. Her research foci include gender and educational leadership with a focus on black female school superintendents; urban education and educational leadership highlighting administrative reform in urban schools; diversity and educational leadership exploring how the intersections of class, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual diversity, and ability affect leaders, and spirituality and leadership. She is the author of numerous articles and book chapters in these areas of research, as well as the author of Multi-leadership in Urban Schools.

Petra E. Snowden, received her Ph.D. in Urban Education/Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she also earned a Master of Science degree in German Literature and a Bachelor of Science degree in French, German, and Secondary Education. At present, Dr. Snowden is Director of the Ph.D. in Urban Services/Urban Education Concentration at Old Dominion University in Norfolk VA. She is past coordinator of the alternative Norfolk Public Schools and Old Dominion University principal preparation program, Principal Leadership for Urban Schools, Co- director of the Danforth Tidewater Principal Preparation program, Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Services, and Associate Professor of Educational Administration at Old Dominion University. She founded the Principal Center at Old Dominion University and served as assessor, coach, and mentor for the Tidewater NASSP/Assessment Center. Her research and writing interests focus on linkages between schools, universities, and community service agencies, particularly as these structures affect the lives of vulnerable children, youth , and adults, non traditional principal preparation, and mentoring. She remains active presenting at national conferences and providing professional development seminars within school settings on topics such as school board and superintendent roles and responsibilities, program evaluation, and planning. In addition, Dr. Snowden served as president of the Hampton Roads YWCA and is an advocate for urban and women's issues. She is the author of numerous articles related to the improvement of school practices and has spoken on a variety of topics pertaining to educational training in community organizations, the "School as a Care Provider," and school leadership. She is completing a multilingual book on the identification of abused children in schools from a multicultural perspective, and the appropriate actions to be taken by principals, counselors, and teachers.