Navigating School Board Politics

Carrie R. Sampson is an associate professor in the Division of Educational Leadership and Innovation at Arizona State University. Her scholarship explores how educational leadership and policymaking at the K-12 level influence equity and social justice for minoritized communities.

"Navigating School Board Politics offers a crucial framework for advancing educational equity amid political polarization and creating pathways for school and district transformation. This timely and concisely written book challenges conventional ideas about the role and power of school boards and is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of public schools and democracy in education."--Sonya Douglass, professor, Teachers College, Columbia University "In the political minefield that is public education today, this much-needed framework provides timely, relevant, and practical information for all school board members who are seeking to foster equity in their districts. Sampson's book is essential reading for new and returning school board members."--Terah Venzant Chambers, professor of educational administration, Michigan State University, and school board trustee, East Lansing Public Schools "Sampson has contributed the first of its kind--and long overdue--in-depth study that contributes a framework for school boards to promote lasting equity within school districts. It will help not only board members, but school administrators who often struggle to navigate board politics--especially around equity. This is the framework we have all been hoping to see in our era: a book that has impactful, clear-cut strategies for educational leaders and board members who are committed to promoting system change for equity!"--Muhammad Khalifa, professor of educational administration and executive director of Urban and Rural Initiatives at The Ohio State University and author of Culturally Responsive School Leadership