The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine how mentoring support systems, race and gender intersectional challenges shape the pathway for five African-American women principals in a South Texas urban school district. The researcher used a semi-structured interview question protocol, audio-recorded, and professionally transcribed…

Effective recruitment and retention strategies of teachers remain elusive for school districts. This study examines the pilot implementation of a year-long teacher residency program throughout four high-needs districts. This program embeds eight residents in these schools and provides various teacher preparation supports to support these beginning…

This qualitative study sought to explore the perceptions of women school superintendents in K-12 public schools in Texas about the challenges they face as leaders and how they endure these impactful challenges, particularly during critical times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Polidore's Resilience Theory (2004) as the theoretical framework,…

The superintendent is one of the most important positions within public school districts because they have the capacity to influence policies, practices, and perceptions among school staff while simultaneously holding sway over the public. Yet, few Latinx administrators are hired into the superintendency -- even fewer are Latinas. Consequently,…

This qualitative study explored whether novice principals believed their principal development program had adequately prepared them for high-performance ratings on the principal evaluation rubric. Over the past two decades, legislation has stressed that student achievement is an essential component of leadership effectiveness (Pannell &…

The purpose of this narrative inquiry is to hear stories from principals in relation to their assistant superintendent supervision and coaching and professional development through principal professional learning communities and resulting efficacy, particularly during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The literature from the field has…

Effective professional development (PD) is crucial for enhancing teacher instruction and student achievement. This Spotlight explores innovative approaches to PD that prioritize teacher needs and foster meaningful learning experiences. From hybrid PD models to teacher-led initiatives and on-demand online courses, these articles offer valuable…

From stress and burnout, to anxiety and depression, teachers are suffering from various mental health issues. Teacher mental health concerns are affecting school and classroom climates, attrition rates, and student performance. Teachers are in need of school district-provided mental health supports, practices, and programs. This mixed-methods…

It is estimated that 1.6 billion students were displaced from the traditional school building in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (UN, 2022; IMF, 2020). While the drastic change in how society normally functions was a shock for everyone, children and historically marginalized people suffered disproportionately severe impacts (GHO, 2022; UNESCO,…

This article describes a learning partnership between district or county leaders and school leaders to create a system of principal professional learning that came to life in principal learning communities across a district or multiple-district region. For more than a decade, Learning Forward has engaged with district-level leaders as learning…

For much of the last two decades, beginning with the passage of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) in 2002, the top political leaders have shown concern about children stuck in failing public schools. NCLB required districts to do something -- not enough, but something -- about those schools. Millions of children still languish in low-performing schools,…

This qualitative phenomenological narrative research study strives to better understand the challenges Hispanic administrators face when working with high minority populations. According to the Pew Foundation (2008), schools where students fail to do well academically, tend to have a larger population of Hispanic students. In a brief from the…

As the Professional Learning Community (PLC) process becomes embedded within schools, the level of district support has a direct impact on whether schools have the ability to re-culture and sustain highly effective collaborative practices. The purpose of this article is to share a professional learning community conceptual framework from the US,…

The role of educational technology has been debated since education began with the Greeks when they questioned using paper versus memory to record thoughts. While technology in the classroom has changed, the debate regarding the role and use of technology in education remains unchanged. Instructional leadership in the district system continues to…

Cultural proficiency is defined as the wherewithal to understand and possess the skills and behaviors to relate effectively with individuals from various cultures and backgrounds (Cross, Bazron, Dennis and Isaacs, 1989). A culturally proficient leader values difference and the growth that occurs from increased knowledge about those who are…