Developing and Supporting Community School Principals

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: Developing Effective Schools and School Leaders

Abstract

If community schools are to succeed as a strategy for creating equitable education systems, they must have capable principals. Implementing the community school strategy is demanding work, yet developing the skills needed to lead them is underexplored in the literature. This article documents a mixed methods analysis of data from an expert panel and 14 experienced community school principals. The authors identified specific factors related to successful community school leadership and demonstrated how they align with the current professional standards that inform the preparation of school principals. They also argue that principals require explicit training and ongoing support to lead these multifaceted change efforts. The article closes with practical advice for implementers of community school initiatives and principal preparation programs.

Authors

• Linda K. Mayger, The College of New Jersey

• Kathleen Provinzano, Drexel University