Chapter 11: Developing a Leadership Platform Through Community Engagement

Community engagement is central to an effective 21st century school leader. Schools of education need to produce strong instructional school leaders committed to the success of every child, willing to be held accountable for the school’s achievement, and able to build capacity through partnerships with organizations that will share and support the school’s goals and vision. However, traditional educational administration programs and certification procedures are not producing enough of this type of leader. Developing a leadership platform, particularly one that focuses on community engagement, does not occur in seclusion. It is often influenced by a school leader’s governing agencies and other external forces. With current educational policy makers calling for school building leaders to be better equipped to work with community stakeholders, the educational leadership program at The City College of New York, underscores the important perspective that schools cannot accomplish their goals alone. Using case study analysis of three programs developed by a higher education institution, and the accompanying assessments, this chapter looks at the efforts of the educational leadership program at The City College of New York to assist aspiring school leaders develop a leadership platform that embraces the community through curricular reconfigurations of innovative collaborative practices in several public schools in Queens, New York. The chapter challenges readers to rethink traditional thinking and make meaning in what is needed to prepare school leaders. Additionally, it highlights the unprecedented use of grant writing as an important tool for convening community stakeholders to address gaps in school and student needs.