Toward a Concept of Leadership for Educational Equity

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Abstract

This literature review is a preliminary exploration of selected literature from organizational theory and educational leadership, using a critical lens, that answers the call to examine how conceptualizations of educational leadership reproduce racial and class hierarchies. I draw on four concepts of leadership embodying a range of relationships between formal school leaders and other stakeholders, and ideas about leadership goals, to sketch the outlines of a concept of educational leadership for equity. This concept incorporates participation by marginalized students, families, and community members, with the potential to draw on untapped assets to improve opportunities and outcomes. Further research guided by this concept could explore components of educational leadership, such as practices of school boards in racially and socioeconomically diverse districts.

Author

• Ann LoBue, Teachers College, Columbia University