Insights: How Expert Principals Make Difficult Decisions

Dionne V. McLaughlin, Ed.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at North Carolina Central University. She is a British-born Jamaican educator who is an experienced bilingual high school and elementary school principal. Dr. McLaughlin has experience as a K-12 Director for a voluntary desegregation program in Massachusetts and as the Program Director for a Latino community-based organization. Additionally, she has 11 years of experience teaching, a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and a Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Research interests include: the principalship, Blacks in Latin America, Effective teachers of African American and Latino high school students, and examining the racial context of schools. Recent scholarly works include an NCPEA article on how administrators can improve schools by learning from the experiences of African American and Latino High School Students and a Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina article, “The Cultural Symphony in Schools: Effectively Teaching African American and Latino High School Students.” Dr. McLaughlin also has another manuscript in progress for a SAGE book chapter, “New South Realities, Demographics, Cultural Capital, and Diversity” in a Guide on Educational Leadership and Management that will be published in 2015. Dr. McLaughlin has led workshops for teachers, principals and assistant principals on culturally responsive teaching, effective school practices, and making effective leadership decisions.

"I have never seen or heard of an excellent school that did not have an excellent principal.  In this important new book McLaughlin helps us to understand what it takes to become a genuine expert as a school leader by closely examining how they navigate the challenges involved in leading schools during these turbulent times.  For policymakers, district leaders, parents and others who want to see more progress in the effort to improve our nation′s schools, this book will be an invaluable resource."

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorPart I: Factors Expert Principals Consider in Decision Making1: Weighing Options2: Recognizing and Connecting to Core Values3: Considering the Culture Before Introducing Change4: Examining the Whole PicturePart II: Making Difficult Decisions5: Decisions About Student Consequences6: Decisions About Faculty and Staff7: Decisions About Practices, Policies, and Programs8: Decisions That Improve African American and Latino Student AchievementReferencesResourcesClassroom Walkthrough FormCurrent Bell ScheduleProposed Bell SchedulePrincipal Interview QuestionsResourcesList of TablesList of Case StudiesGlossaryIndex