Today, about 50% of US elementary schools have a pre-kindergarten (pre-K) program located in the building. This article systematically reviews the empirical literature on principal leadership of pre-K programs in elementary schools. We collected studies using academic database searches, scanning reference lists of relevant articles, and consulting…

Background/purpose: Educational leadership plays a fundamental role in promoting a democratic school culture that fosters participation, coexistence, and inclusion. However, the development of such a culture largely depends on how leadership teams perform their roles and the leadership styles they adopt. This study aims to explore the perceptions…

This research afforded three female PK-12 educational leaders space in which to examine, deconstruct, reflect, and build upon sensemaking to understand how they led their campus out of a crisis, how healing from a crisis happened for the leader, and how they led their school community. Three portraits were used to highlight these female PK-12…

This study examined how early childhood leaders working simultaneously as kindergarten teachers perceive the professional learning communities they lead -- explicitly identifying the factors that promote or hinder the communities' development from the leader's point of view. A qualitative-phenomenological approach was applied using semi-structured…

This study explores teacher perception of teacher leadership and the influence of teachers on school culture. The study addresses a gap in scholarship regarding the perception of teachers (not administrators) on these issues. The research questions that guided this dissertation structured its analysis by limiting the data to information that…

Multiculturalism is increasingly present in schools, especially in Melilla (Spain), where cultural diversity is one of its defining features due to its geographical location on the border between Africa and Europe. In the light of the importance of educational leaders in dealing with this diversity, this research proposes two main objectives.…

Research investigating racial underrepresentation in gifted education programs undertaken from an organizational perspective has been limited. This lack of research leaves unexamined the amelioration efforts of leaders positionally responsible for these programs: gifted education coordinators. Yet, many gifted coordinators have taken steps to…

An effective principal is one who has the ability to galvanize people toward a common goal and motivate them to use their gifts and talents. It is understood that it takes more than willpower to be an effective school leader. It takes knowledge, vision and commitment to lead a school community toward academic success. The leadership of a school…

The majority of public school principals are now required to supervise and evaluate early childhood teachers and classrooms, yet many do not have a sufficient understanding of child development and early childhood pedagogy to lead for equity. This practical and comprehensive resource addresses this critical gap by presenting current research on…

Countries around the world have increased their focus on high quality early childhood programing. Recognizing the importance of parental and community engagement as a lever for improving child development and learning outcomes, and as a means of addressing social justice challenges, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)…

This article presents a case study on changing food practices from traditional cold sandwich meals to hot meals in a Norwegian kindergarten. Data were sourced from interviews, complemented by non-participatory video observation and observational notes. Building on Fullan's model for understanding a change process, this paper presents the…

Early childhood education leaders were challenged to assist K-3 teachers with transitioning to online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood education leaders' challenges to assist K-3 teachers with transitioning to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. The…

Technology-enhanced teaching and learning (TETL) is the integration of technology into teaching and learning practices to improve the quality of learning outcomes. This is an essential strategy for improving educational quality. School leaders significantly affect the integration of effective TETL in the classroom. The International Society for…

Transitional kindergarten (TK)--California's universal prekindergarten options that represent the first year of a two-year kindergarten program--began expansion during the 2022-2023 school year and is gradually increasing age eligibility. By the fall of 2025, all four-year-olds across the state will have access to TK in public schools. While the…

This article outlines how research, theory, and policy are converging toward a shift in preservice teacher technology preparation and offers "Technology Infusion" as a promising new paradigm. In technology-infused programs, preparation strategies extend beyond the stand-alone technology course to help novice teachers develop digital-age…