Chapter 11: Building a Stronger Leader Preparation Model: Inclusive Practice Grounded in Research and Experience

The United States continues to require substantive reforms in leader preparation informed by voices of leaders in the field and scholarly research. This chapter examines how leadership preparation programs must support the development of inclusive leaders for each student, emphasizing marginalized populations and students who are differently abled, given the context of schools in the era of COVID-19. Inclusive leaders create strong school cultures and distribute leadership to serve all learners well, ensuring students feel safe, supported, and valued in school. In promoting equity for “all,” inclusive leaders must respond effectively to the potential and needs of each student. Inclusive leaders ensure high expectations and appropriate support so students, across race, gender, ethnicity, language, disability, sexual orientation, family background, and/or income, can excel in school (Council of Chief State School Officers, 2018).