Carolyn M. Shields Books

This is the first and only book that examines dialogue as it pertains to the work of school leaders. The authors of Dialogue Is Not Just Talk develop a theory of dialogic leadership that bridges the gaps between the pioneering philosophical works of such seminal thinkers as Bakhtin, Buber, and Gadamer, as well as the work of educational leaders. Using examples, vignettes, and illustrations, this book develops both a theoretical and a practical approach to educational leadership. Dialogue Is Not Just Talk speaks to leaders striving to develop relationships, improve understanding, overcome conflict, and create an increased sense of community within diverse contexts and pluralistic societies. This book will be useful in academic and practical settings.

Explore a fresh perspective on leadership that emphasizes the importance of creating school communities focused on social justice and academic excellence. This guide provides practical insights and strategies for educators to foster inclusive environments that promote equity and high standards for all students.

The Bakhtin Primer offers a truly new and innovative approach to leading and reforming schools. It delves into some of Bakhtin’s most salient concepts – chronotope, polyphony and heteroglossia, dialogue and dialogism, and carnival – and presents them as the basis for a comprehensive reform agenda – one that focuses on high levels of student achievement and on socially just and inclusive educational practice. The primer demonstrates the relevance of theory to educational practice and presents it in clear, concise language coupled with numerous illustrative examples to make the ideas accessible to readers. It elaborates the importance of thinking about dialogue, not just as talk, but as an ontological concept that informs how we embrace the diversity inherent in our world. It explores how dialogue and carnival can disrupt the status quo and confront inequitable practices and relationships. It argues that education informed by Bakhtin’s concepts would be more open, more conscious of inquiry, ambiguity, incompleteness, complexity, and relationships than traditional, more rational approaches. It would challenge, and teach students to question authoritative views and traditions and lead them to develop important understandings about our interconnectedness as well as how to interact with and learn from differences across time, place, class, and culture.

Transformative leadership theory is the focal point of this third edition, emphasizing its role in fostering inclusive, equitable, and socially just learning environments. It addresses the challenges faced by aspiring and practicing leaders in the complex landscape of modern education, offering insights and strategies to navigate uncertainty and promote positive change within educational settings.

This exciting book explores the concept of transformative leadership and how leaders can create learning environments that are academically excellent, equitable, inclusive, and socially just. Grounded in research and real examples, Dr. Carolyn Shields presents an approach to leadership that is engaged, authentic, courageous, and effective in addressing the needs of today's diverse student bodies. Featuring examples from schools and leaders, questions for reflection, downloadable eResources, and links to useful websites, Becoming a Transformative Leader is an invaluable and practical guide for school administrators, teacher leaders, and district leaders concerned about the uneven educational playing field for students in our schools.

Transformative Leadership: A Primer both delivers a complete and engaging overview of transformative leadership and also clearly distinguishes it from other popular approaches to leadership.