Chapter 8: Susan Loucks-Horsley, Phd: Transformational Leader and Spark for Educational Change ¹

Susan Loucks-Horsley had a smile that brightened every room she entered and a superior intellect and problem solving orientation. She was a national expert in many areas: educational leadership, school change, curriculum implementation, science and mathematics education, and more. But it wasn’t only what Susan knew—and she knew so much—that made her stand out as a pioneer in science education. What set her apart were her special gifts as a teacher, connector, and bridge-builder. She bridged the worlds of research and practice and connected networks of people around the nation to work together to transform education. Her keen understanding of how to collaborate with people and apply systems thinking to effect change, as well as her tireless work ethic and commitment to applying quality research and common sense to the difficult challenges facing education, were the magic ingredients in her successful career. As Senta Raizen, who was a close colleague of Susan for many years, told me recently: