Laura Schall-Leckrone - Böcker

The research in this volume draws on aspects of complexity theory and its integral link to systems performance to propose a new method for combatting the longstanding opportunity gap and related underperformance of so many underserved students in the American educational system.Through a longitudinal case study of the Lynch Leadership Academy at Boston College, this research considers the initial conditions and related disequilibrium principals experienced, the degree to which principals shared power and authority within their school context, and the extent to which they generated a shared school culture founded on collaboration and systematic reflection. From these data, the authors create a detailed picture of the Academy and its impact on the principals and their schools, using a new analytic tool called the “systems transformation heuristic," designed by the authors to quantify the qualitative dimensions of a school’s efforts to enact adaptive change consistent with the complex adaptive system metaphor.As such, it offers a new foundation for conceptualizing ongoing systems change, as well as a fresh model for school personnel to consider their experience from concrete, intertwined, and unique points of view. It will appeal to scholars, researchers, and practitioners with interests in educational leadership, complexity theory, urban education, and social justice.

The research in this volume draws on aspects of complexity theory and its integral link to systems performance to propose a new method for combatting the longstanding opportunity gap and related underperformance of so many underserved students in the American educational system.Through a longitudinal case study of the Lynch Leadership Academy at Boston College, this research considers the initial conditions and related disequilibrium principals experienced, the degree to which principals shared power and authority within their school context, and the extent to which they generated a shared school culture founded on collaboration and systematic reflection. From these data, the authors create a detailed picture of the Academy and its impact on the principals and their schools, using a new analytic tool called the “systems transformation heuristic," designed by the authors to quantify the qualitative dimensions of a school’s efforts to enact adaptive change consistent with the complex adaptive system metaphor.As such, it offers a new foundation for conceptualizing ongoing systems change, as well as a fresh model for school personnel to consider their experience from concrete, intertwined, and unique points of view. It will appeal to scholars, researchers, and practitioners with interests in educational leadership, complexity theory, urban education, and social justice.

Provides educators with the specialized knowledge they need to best support multilingual children. This book prepares educators for the multilingual classroom, exploring the role of languages in learning across home, school and community contexts.With up-to-date research and examples from varied K-12 educational and community settings, it offers accessible introductions to key linguistic concepts while centering social and societal considerations throughout. Practical classroom applications are provided, with discussion questions and online resources for further exploration of topics.Though primarily intended for aspiring and practicing language teachers, this book expands the definition of educators to include families, communities, and school leaders and recognizes their contributions to language and literacy development. It equips educators with the necessary knowledge of languages for effective multilingual and multimodal learning.