Why School Leaders Need Vision

Bruce S. Cooper, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus, Education Leadership, Administration and Public Policy, Graduate School of Education, Fordham University, New York, New York. He also taught at University of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth College, after receiving his doctorate at the University of Chicago, with Donald A. Erickson, as his mentor.Carlos R. McCray, EdD,is an associate professor at University of Louisville in the Educational Leadership and Administration Program. He teaches qualitative research to aspiring educational leaders. Professor McCray is the co-author of the books, School Leadership in a Diverse Society: Helping Schools Prepare All Students for Success and Cultural Collision and Collusion: Reflections on Hip-Hop Culture, Values, and Schools.Stephen Coffin is a Ph.D. candidate in education at the Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University; teaches school finance as an adjunct professor for the Graduate School of Education, Montclair State University and as a part time lecturer for the Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University; teaches school and higher education finance and economics as an adjunct instructor for the Graduate School of Education, Fordham University; publishes articles, chapters and books; serves on three editorial review boards; is a former school business administrator; has earned an MBA in finance and MPA in public administration; and focuses on education finance and policy, charter schools, community economic development, school business administration, and equal educational opportunity and equity.

Visionary leaders must attend to the everyday functioning of their schools, respond to external policies and political pressures, recognize the weaknesses in the school, and, at the same time, understand the inner- and inter-generational perspectives and strengths of the key stakeholders. Armed with this information from this book, the visionary leader can imagine a different future for the school and its students. Combining the visionary leader’s plan with the collaboration of teachers, parents, and students help to make that vision a reality.

• Foreword—Virginia RoachChapter 1: Visionary Leadership Adds Value—Bruce S. Cooper and Carlos R. McCray Chapter 2: Building a Collaborative Visionary Community — Karen AndronicoChapter 3: Visionary School Finance Leadership in a ‘Capped’ Fiscal Environment— Stephen V. Coffin Chapter 4: Visionary School Leaders for the 21st Century in Special Education—Su-Je Cho, Kwang Sun C. Blair, and Holly Rittenhouse— CeaChapter 5: Improving Student Outcomes through Reflective Practice and Mindfulness in Educational Leadership—Lisa Bass Chapter 6: Diversity: Manifest Destiny? — Floyd D. Beachum & Carlos R. McCrayChapter 7: Visionary Curriculum: A Journey, not a Destination Selma K. Bartholomew & Ingrid Lafalaise Chapter 8: Putting Vision into Practice: Exploring Five Timeless Principles for Student Achievement—Jonathan W. ShuteChapter 9: The Future with Visionary Leadership in Education – Now! — Carlos R. McCray & Bruce S. Cooper About the EditorsAbout the Contributors