Inclusive Leadership Is Not Optional: Why Principal Prep Must Change

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 3:45 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Leadership, Policy, and Practice in Inclusive and Special Education

Abstract

Principal leadership preparation plays a crucial role in shaping inclusive, equitable learning environments. However, current programs often overlook essential domains such as emotional labor, disability justice, and inclusive design. This qualitative study, based on interviews with elementary principals, identifies significant gaps in training related to special education knowledge, affective leadership demands, and internal communication. Grounded in Hochschild’s emotional labor theory and Critical Special Education Leadership Theory, the findings reveal that effective inclusive leadership requires emotional resilience, systemic advocacy, and a commitment to Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This research calls for leadership preparation programs to embed disability-focused content and emotional competencies as foundational elements, positioning inclusive leadership as a universal expectation critical to fostering equitable, trauma-responsive school communities.

Author

• Catherine E. Olver, Gonzaga University