8: Transforming Schools Through Reflective Dialogue

In Chapter 8, Rachel Solis asserts that reflective dialogue facilitated effectively by educational leaders can transform perspectives and practices to improve schools. While reflection supports us to understand where we are and where we want to be, dialogue allows us to deprivatize beliefs and collectively work to actualize change. Leadership for school change through reflective dialogue entails fostering “deep conversations” centered around educational beliefs and the relationship between those beliefs and the school’s day-to-day practices. Reflective dialogue, above all, challenges individual and institutional assumptions, explores diverse perspectives, fosters critical thinking, and leads to informed and intentional decision-making that enhances teaching and outcomes for students. Dr. Solis, an educational coach and consultant working with classroom teachers, departmental teams, and school leaders to foster reflective dialogue, shares examples and insights from the literature and practice to demonstrate the power of reflective dialogue to empower and encourage shared leadership and align the connection between the specifics of school practices and student learning.