Roles must be looked at in a systems context. Roles must also be considered in relation to incentives in a system. More and better knowledge about good leadership is needed. The movement for leadership must be more inclusive, and the issue of race must be confronted openly. A number of participants said that a pervasive lack of candor about issues of race in schools can be a stumbling block for leaders.
Candor is a necessary prerequisite to creating a climate for effective leadership.
Participants repeatedly cited the need to increase the number of minority candidates for leadership. There is a need for leaders to adapt instructional strategies to different cultural groups. Leaders must be fully committed to the belief that all students, regardless of race or income, can learn and be successful. Leaders need to understand diverse communities. Leaders must know how to engage diverse groups of people in objective conversations over time about the concerns of their schools and community.