This book supports the professional learning of school principals, and those who aspire to be such, in development of their skills and knowledge around fostering inclusive schools for students with special education needs. The book includes 27 case stories that are based on research with school principals. Each case includes expert commentaries and resources to support principals and emerging leaders as they consider how to effectively support students with special education needs in inclusive schools. Its premise is based on the recognition that there are increasing numbers of students with disabilities and special education needs in neighbourhood schools. Principals need to develop new competencies to navigate the challenges, and benefits, of including students with special education needs into inclusive classroom settings. The book provides opportunities to build leadership competencies by considering a diversity of cases related to inclusive leadership. The cases in the book are divided among nine sections addressing the following areas: transitions, early years, elementary school cases, secondary school cases, community supports, school board/district supports, school teams, complex cases, and cases specific to new teachers. Seven cross-cutting themes are addressed in these cases including: communication, parents/caregivers, agency/efficacy, collaboration, relationships/trust, legal, and advocacy.
Steve Sider is a former school administrator and current university faculty member who researches inclusive education and school leadership. He directs the Centre for Leading Research in Education and has held six national research grants exploring how school principals' leadership competencies are nurtured. Kimberly Maich is a current university professor, psychologist, and behaviour analyst, as well as a former autism consultant to schools, vice-principal, and guidance counsellor in charge of special services.
Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Competencies for Inclusive School Leadership Transitions Chapter 3 The Case of Charles Chapter 4 Supporting Albert Chapter 5 The Big Move The Early Years Chapter 6 "You have to trust we're doing our job" Chapter 7 The Case of Jakob Chapter 8 "I can't believe I was the one who excluded him..." Elementary School Specific Cases Chapter 9 The Grade 5 Field Trip Chapter 10 Overstepping Boundaries Chapter 11 An Accident and an Injury Secondary School Specific Cases Chapter 12 The Incident in Mr. Mooney's Science Class Chapter 13 Overheard in the Staff Room Chapter 14 Truly Inclusive? Community Supports Chapter 15 Involving Community Programs: The Case of Aki Chapter 16 The Case of Sahar Said Chapter 17 "She won't go" School Board Supports Chapter 18 Supporting T.J. and Mr. Garcia Chapter 19 A Case of School Board Funding Chapter 20 Wandering Off: A Case of a Safe Arrival Program School Teams Chapter 21 Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place Chapter 22 A Dysfunctional School Team? Chapter 23 "No one is listening to me" Complex Cases Chapter 24 "I was on autopilot" Chapter 25 The Case of Bethany Chapter 26 The Newspaper Article Supporting New Teachers Chapter 27 Figuring It Out On Your Own Chapter 28 The Case of Alexis Chapter 29 Over Invested? References
