Unexplored Conditions of Charter School Principals: An Examination of the Issues and Challenges for Leaders

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Description

Unexplored Conditions of Charter School Principals: An Examination of the Issues and Challenges for Leaders, explores contemporary policy issues confronting charter school principals. The purpose of this book is to explore the issues and challenges confronted by charter school principals across an array of goals and expectations set forth by the policy and local context. By drawing on leadership and policy experts and researchers, we offer an in-depth examination of what current issues charter school principals face. Starting with autonomy, we work our way through teacher evaluation and succession and socialization and then conclude with an opportunity to reflect on what we know and how to look forward. By drawing on autonomy, sensemaking, teacher evaluations, and succession and socialization, this book traces the development of the charter principal within these policy contexts. Collectively, these topics form the beginnings of what we hope will be an informative and useful conversation of where the charter school principal has been and where they are headed.

Reviews

This is an important contribution to a timely topic given the rapid growth of charter schools in America and the dearth of knowledge on how to best prepare and support principals in these schools. This book provides empirically based insight about how charter leaders navigate their unique organizational and policy contexts. The authors address crucial topics such as how charter school leaders use their autonomy, make decisions about teacher evaluation, and address leadership succession. This work contains many useful insights for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. -- Chris Torres, Assistant Professor, K-12 Administration, Michigan State University
The Unexplored Conditions of Charter School Principals is a timely and scholarly assessment of charter school principals and the challenges they confront, which should inform leadership discussions. A must read for parents, educators, and practitioners. -- Yongmei Ni, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy, University of Utah
Having the right leaders in charter schools and understanding their support needs may improve school management and enhance student and school outcomes. However, we must first understand the unique place and space of charter leaders in order to better prepare those who lead them. This volume does a lot to dispel the mythologies of charter schools and provides a body of literature on impactful studies in this area. -- Noelle Arnold, Associate Professor, Educational Administration, Ohio State University

Author Bio

Marytza A. Gawlik is an assistant professor in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies department at Florida State University. Dr. Gawliks research examines various aspects of charter schools including leadership, accountability, autonomy, succession and socialization and has authored several research articles related to charter school leadership and policy. Dana L. Bickmore is an associate professor in the Educational, Policy, and Leadership program at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Her research explored principal leadership in charter and middle schools.