Changing District Systems to Expand Principal Supervisors’ Capacity to Support Equity-Centered Leadership

• In Event: Building Equity-Centered Leadership: Readiness, Reflection, and Systemic Support

Abstract

This paper examines how eight large urban districts designed and implemented equity-centered principal pathways. In particular, our research explores the key role of principal supervision in these efforts. We analyzed meeting notes, interview transcripts, and other artifacts to identify three cross-district strategies that expanded principal supervisors’ capacity to support leadership for equity in schools: (1) developing a shared framework for school leader support; (2) increasing the time principal supervisors spent in schools and collaborating with one another; and (3) establishing new routines for collaboration between principal supervisors and district staff in other departments. Findings contribute to the field’s understanding of how to build systems that prepare and support school leaders to advance equity in practice.

Authors

• Daniella Molle, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Richard R. Halverson, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Kelly Lawler, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Arati Bapat, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Shweta Chandrashekhar, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Emily Nott, University of Wisconsin - Madison