Climbing the Himalayas of School Leadership : The Socialization of Early Career Administrators

Carol Mullen contends that in today's education climate there exists an urgent call for university faculty to take responsibility for reforming university preparation programs. She uncovers vital information about the needs of the nation's schools that can be reflected in program content and policy reform. Otherwise, the least effective of these programs could be eliminated, as has already occurred in some states. This book should help principal preparation programs that are behind the times to move forward. Such programs can thus be expected to be aligned not only with the expectations of universities, policymaking bodies, and the public, but also with school districts and practicing school leaders. Schoolteachers who aspire to school leadership will also benefit from this book, as Mullen speaks to them directly through the idea of peer administration groups. School practitioners who carry mentoring and evaluative responsibilities will also profit from learning about new school leaders' experiences of socialization, adjustment, and survival, as well as their conceptualizations of what matters for school leaders to know about the job itself.