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.
Public engagement is critical to successful leadership.
There needs to be public awareness, at both the community and national level, of the changes necessary to strengthen school leadership. Sharp disparities between how a community views leadership, and how it is regarded in the school or the district or state, can result in contradictory expectations for school leaders. The issue of governance is crucial. School boards are critical to creating both supports and barriers to the effectiveness of superintendents and principals. Shortages relate directly to the poor climate for leadership.