Ethics and Politics in School Leadership

Daniel R. Tomal, PhD is a Distinguished Professor of Leadership at Concordia University Chicago teaching educational leadership. He is a former high school teacher, administrator, corporate vice president, consultant, and professor. He received his BS and MAE degrees in education from Ball State University and a PhD in educational administration and supervision from Bowling Green State University. He has authored nineteen books such as Action Research for Educators, Grant Writing (with Rekha Rajan), Resource Management for School Administrators (with Craig Schilling), Managing Human Resource and Collective Bargaining (with Craig Schilling) and Leading School Change: Maximizing Resources for School Improvement (with Craig Schilling and Margaret Trybus), and Teacher Leader (with Craig Schilling and Robert Wilhite). He has made guest appearance on many national radio and television shows. Robert K. Wilhite, EdD is a Professor of Leadership at Concordia University Chicago and Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership. He received a BA in Humanities from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, a MA in Reading and Learning Disabilities and an EdD in Curriculum, Instruction, and Administration from Loyola University Chicago. He is a former high school English teacher, elementary, middle school, high school principal, associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and retired superintendent of schools. He is coauthor of several RLE books to include The Teacher Leader and Supervision and Evaluation for Learning and Growth. He has made numerous presentations at conferences in areas of leadership styles, curriculum development, school improvement and change processes. He also currently serves on the Illinois Licensure Board, Principal Review Panel, evaluating the design of university principal preparation programs. Brenda F. Graham, EdD. is a Professor of Leadership at Concordia University Chicago. She is a former high school science teacher, school principal and superintendent of schools. She received a BA degree in Biology from the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff, an MS degree in Biology from Chicago State University, and an EdD in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. She has written many articles and made numerous presentations at conferences in the areas of assessment, accountability, and diverse learning practices. She also provides consulting services to clients in the areas of school improvement, strategic planning, violence prevention, human resource management, and program planning.Jeffrey T. Brierton, PhD is an Associate Professor of Leadership at Concordia University Chicago. He is former teacher, administrator, and high school principal who received a BA degree in political science from Elmhurst College, an MA degree in political science from Roosevelt University, a MSEd from Northern Illinois University, an EdS from National Louis University, and a PhD in American History from Loyola University. Dr. Brierton is also a retired ten-year veteran of the US Army Reserve.

• Foreword AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1 Doing the Right Thing: Ethics and School Leadership2 The Conflict of Ethics, Politics, and Policies 3 Making Haste Slowly: Politics at the District and Board Level 4 Leading from the Front: Politics in the School Building 5 Who’s In Charge Here? Politics of the Union-Administration Relationship 6 The Art of the Possible: Negotiating and Communicating with People 7 Ethics and Politics Case Studies Appendix A: Political Activities: What Can’t I Do Appendix B: Outside ActivitiesAppendix C: Gifts Between EmployeesAppendix D: Standards of Conduct for Educational Leaders IndexAbout the Authors

The authors provide an excellent perspective on understanding ethics and politics.