Caring Leadership in Turbulent Times

A volume in Educational Leadership for Social JusticeSeries Editor Jeffrey S. Brooks, University of Idaho, Denise E. Armstrong, Brock University;Ira Bogotch, Florida Atlantic University; Sandra Harris, Lamar University;Whitney H. Sherman, Virginia Commonwealth University; George Theoharis, Syracuse UniversityThis book analyzes education reform through the eyes of those entrenched in the process-policy makers,administrators, middle managers, principals, and teachers-in the context of care. A senior administrator,who participated in the implementation of an unprecedented series of reforms that flattened the educationsystem in a Canadian province and rebuilt it with a new mandate, examines learning from the shortcomings ofthe past and provides a critical enquiry that can help determine the success or failure of future reform effortsby shedding light on the obstacles to avoid, problems to correct, and methods to embrace in order toovercome hurt and disappointment in a turbulent environment and foster more caring and effective educational organizations.Few attempts have been made to write a book about women’s work from the perspective of those in senior leadership roles in education; others havewritten about it but not experienced it firsthand. This book illuminates the controversial debate between women and gender in education andchallenges assumptions about equity and the caring and democratic nature of education. It contributes to a broader understanding and knowledge of thecomplexities of leadership work within education, which in turn can lead to improvement in professional relationships as well as organizationaleffectiveness. The book contains enlightening and compelling stories about the unique and shared experiences of people navigating turbulence withinan organization.Author Mary Green draws on her career spent teaching and learning to provide a unique Canadian perspective and context. She offers a rigorous self,social, historical, and political reflection of educators, who despite experiencing particular challenges,draw purpose from faith in the possibilities and potential of more caring practice in education. Thecontent will prove useful to those committed to infusing more humanity into work in education withreference to individuals, institutions, and the social and political challenges in the field. Specifically,this book is relevant to graduate students in faculties of education, policy makers, principals, otheradministrators, and organizational leaders. Universal issues of power and politics revealinterconnections between the personal and the global workplace, underscoring the importance of care inthe workplace.