Preparing Leaders for Deeper Learning

An astute assessment of the educational leadership skills and leadership development practices that align with deeper learning in K–12 schools. Leadership Preparation for Deeper Learning spotlights educational leaders as key actors in the urgent task of readying students for college, careers, and citizenship in an evolving world. Marjorie Wechsler and Steven Wojcikiewicz argue that, in response to new understandings of learning and development and emerging societal needs, K–12 school leaders must be able to shift institutions toward deeper learning models, in which collaboration, critical thinking, and project-based learning are fundamental concepts. Through detailed case studies, Wechsler and Wojcikiewicz demonstrate how educational leadership development programs can prepare principals to guide their schools, teachers, and students toward deeper learning and equity. They highlight the approaches of five exemplary leadership preparation programs—the University of Illinois at Chicago, Long Beach Unified School District, Arkansas Leadership Academy, National Institute for School Leadership, and the University of California, Berkley—which together serve educational leaders at all career levels, from initial training for candidates through in-service professional development for seasoned school principals. They identify school structures and classroom practices that enable these programs to confer the skill set needed for deeper learning leadership, and they describe the education policy priorities that can support school leaders in acquiring these necessary skills. This book shows that targeted leadership development is a vital component of transforming schools to create deeper learning opportunities for all students.

About the Author :
Marjorie E. Wechsler is the principal research manager and the colead of the educator quality team at the Learning Policy Institute. She leads mixed-methods research studies related to teacher and leader development, school- and district-level reform, and systems approaches to educational improvement.  Steven K. Wojcikiewicz is a senior researcher and policy advisor at the Learning Policy Institute. In his 25 years of education experience, he has worked as a teacher, experiential educator, professor, researcher, and policy advisor.

Review :
“A compelling look at how school leaders can be prepared to foster empowering and equitable learning for all students. Through insightful case studies, Wechsler and Wojcikiewicz offer valuable strategies for enabling principals to support student engagement, achievement, and advancement, especially for those furthest from opportunity. This book is an essential resource for educators, policymakers, and others interested in developing school leaders for the twenty-first-century schools we need.”—Linda Darling-Hammond, president, Learning Policy Institute and professor emeritus, Stanford University “Everyone tells school leaders they should be ‘instructional leaders,’ but rarely does administrative training or professional development actually prepare them to be instructional leaders. Preparing School Leaders for Deeper Learning provides school leaders with ‘existence proofs’—real-life examples of how the work is done. Bravo to Wechsler, Wojcikiewicz, and their team!”—Gloria Ladson-Billings, professor emerita, University of Wisconsin-Madison and immediate past president, National Academy of Education “Wechsler and Wojcikiewicz make an important contribution to program planners and policymakers by providing insightful guidance that derives from detailed case examples from a variety of perspectives, including universities, states, districts, and non-profits. Anyone who develops programs or policies for school leaders will take away valuable approaches.” —Jody Spiro, author of High-Payoff Strategies: How Education Leaders Get Results