Challenges and Opportunities of Educational Leadership Research and Practice

A volume in International Research on School Leadership Series Editors: Alex J. Bowers, Teachers College- Columbia University; Alan R. Shoho, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Bruce G. Barnett, University of Texas at San Antonio As the sixth volume in the International Research on School Leadership series, the contributing authors in this volume consider the history, challenges, and opportunities of the field of research and practice in educational leadership and administration in schools and districts. Ten years after the work of Firestone and Riehl (2005) and their contributing authors, our aim with the present volume was to summarize and update the work of the field, and provide a space to consider the multiple futures of educational leadership in schools and districts, as both challenges and opportunities. The first decade of the twenty-first century brought significant critiques, challenges, and competition to the research and practice of training leaders and administrators of schools and districts around the world. Congruently, the field experienced significant growth and change, as multiple new sub-domains flourished and were founded. Thus, in this volume we were delighted to included excellent chapters from multiple authors that considered the duality of the challenges and opportunities of: żż The work of the field of educational leadership and administration research to date. żż The opportunities and challenges of new visions of leadership in traditional and non-traditional schools. żż The evolving state of research evidence in educational leadership and the increasing sophistication of multiple methodologies, including qualitative research, quantitative modeling, the ability to test theory, and the increasing opportunities brought on by the intersection of data, research, and practice. żż The preparation of educational leaders. żż And the emerging trends in the professional development of school leaders.