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Given the fundamental role of public education in the foundational framework of equity and social justice leadership, as well as the demonstrated shortcomings of the current system of education, the primary goal of this chapter is to explore issues of social justice, leadership, and equity, in the context of charter schools. A corollary purpose is to build on the work of Wells, Slayton, and Scott (2002) who called on progressive supporters of charter schools and public schools to couch their arguments for democratic schooling in a call for social justice and equity as opposed to greater “liberty” for educational consumers.

Many researchers, educational practitioners, business leaders, and schools of education have weighed in on the essential attributes or characteristics of “good” leaders. Two characteristics that are often assumed to exist in good leaders are that: (1) they are reflective practitioners and (2) they have the skills to create change in others. Educational leadership programs of all types, including teaching master's and doctoral programs, often embed reflective activities into their coursework and offer courses that are intended to teach future leaders the concepts related to “change management.” Yet at the same time we claim to be building reflective practitioners who can enact change, we fail to create programs that are likely to produce these reflective practitioners who have the skills and content knowledge to create that change we seek in the public K-12 educational arena. This chapter argues for creating leadership development programs that are more intentional about creating practitioners who have the skills necessary to cause other adults to change their practices and improve instruction. It also outline the elements that are essential for any leadership program to create leaders who will be able to profoundly change public K-12 education from the classroom to the principalship to the district level administration.

The structure of public school systems does not foster or grow leadership. Instead, individuals are promoted through the system most frequently as a result of having held certain positions. Teachers become classroom personnel. Classroom personnel become administrators. Administrators become principals. These progressions from classroom to principal are infrequently accompanied by educational pathways or professional development that ensures that those entering into positions of leadership are actually prepared to lead. Instead, people ascend to positions of leadership after having obtained the “right” credentials or walked in the “right” shoes. The consequence of this practice has led to a significant number of people who hold leadership positions but are ill-equipped to lead. This chapter will address this situation by contemplating what can be done to (a) prevent people who should not be leaders from becoming leaders and (b) create a system that cultivates leaders who both hold leadership positions and are positioned to lead.

Andrew L. Armagost is a doctoral student in educational leadership at the Pennsylvania State University. He holds a baccalaureate degree in education and policy. His interests in future research include education law, school finance, and teacher employment and certification.