Case Studies on Educational Administration

Case Studies on Educational Administration, 5/e

Theodore J. Kowalski, University of Dayton

Effective practice in school administration requires both leadership and management. In today’s reform-minded, information-based society, practitioners must be able to frame problems correctly and then make effective decisions to ameliorate them. As leaders, district and school-level administrators are expected to focus on what should be done to improve schools; as managers; they are expected to focus on how to do things successfully. The cases in this book are designed to make students think about common problems of practice by encouraging them to bridge theory and practice. More precisely, the cases are intended to hone four essential practitioner skills:

1. The ability to frame a problem correctly

2. The ability to develop and evaluate alternative solutions to a defined problem

3. The ability to use data and other facts to counter the influence of politics and emotion in decision making

4. The ability to grow professionally by engaging in reflective practice.

New to this Edition:

• In the aftermath of the No Child Left Behind Act, greater emphasis has been placed on using data to make decisions.
• The Introduction to the book has been expanded to provide more information about problem solving and data-driven decision making.
• Immediately after each case, a format for framing the primary problem has been added. The intent is to teach students how to frame problems and the nexus between problem solving and decision making.
• Three new cases have been added. Case 1 involves data-driven decision making; Case 8 pertains to cultural conflict in a rapidly changing community; Case 15 addresses the responsibility of high school officials for a weekend student party.

Here’s What Your Colleagues Are Saying:

“These cases provide the students opportunities to see things from an administrator’s perspective instead of the teacher’s perspective. This can be very eye-opening for some of the students”

Michael Pregot, Iona College

“The book’s strength definitely lies in the complexity of each case.”

Terry Stirling, Northeastern Illinois University

A collection of case studies for prospective school administrators that emphasizes problem solving, decision-making, and effective management.

Based on the conviction that effective practice in school administration requires both leadership and management, this text provides a mix of problems that require administrative decisions as presented in 24 open-ended case studies. In today’s reform-minded, information-based society, practitioners must be able to frame problems correctly and then make effective decisions to ameliorate them. As leaders, district and school-level administrators are expected to focus on what should be done to improve schools; as managers, they are expected to focus on how to do things successfully. The cases in this book are designed to make students think about common problems of practice by encouraging them to bridge theory and practice. Each case provides an active form of learning, allowing students to demonstrate their ability to apply knowledge to common problem situations.

Booknews

Kowalski (educational administration, U. of Dayton, Ohio) uses 24 case studies to train the reader in the issues and dilemmas that face an administrator. The case studies are grouped by topic<-->such as lounge talk, using committees to make key decisions, the principal changes some valued rules, and different perceptions of effective teaching<-->and, following background on the topic, the case study is laid out in detail, with the end result suppressed and replaced by a list of key issues and questions to provoke thought and discussion in the classroom. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Theodore J. Kowalski holds the Kuntz Family Chair in Educational Administration, an endowed professorship at the University of Dayton. A former school superintendent, he previously taught at Purdue University, Saint Louis University, and Ball State University, where he also served as dean of the Teachers College. Professor Kowalski is the author or co-author of 18 books and over 135 book chapters and journal articles. He has published in leading journals such as Educational Administration Quarterly, Phi Delta Kappan, Leadership and Policy in Schools, and Planning and Changing. He also is editor of the Journal of School Public Relations and serves on the editorial boards of two other professional journals.