Instructional leadership has long been advocated as a primary responsibility of principals. What is unclear, however, is the role that instructional leadership plays in the current high-stakes testing era in the daily work lives of principals, how they practice as instructional leaders, and toward what instructional outcomes they strive. This study focused on how principals understand the relationship between their daily work and the improvement of instruction in their schools. The study incorporates the voices of 20 principals. Multiple conceptions of instructional leadership are identified and problematic aspects of these conceptions are discussed.

Focused on the absence of a viable population of African American women in the superintendency, this study addressed barriers described by 10 credentialed, district-level Southern women who hold advanced education degrees coupled with years of leadership experience. This phenomenological study used interview methodology to uncover the lived experiences of African American women who were positioned professionally to apply for the superintendency. A Black feminist construct was employed to interpret personal themesearly expectations, family influences, ethical beliefs, vigilant preparation-that converged with external themes-disconnection from networks, oppression, and selection processes-to reveal obstacles to applying for the superintendency. Profiles of well-credentialed African American women educators are provided.

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Citation: Ari, O., Fisher-Ari, T. R., Killacky, J., Angel, R. (2017). "This is my family outside of my family": Care-based relating in a model early college high school. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 25(61). http://dx.doi.org/10.14507/epaa.25.2726Abstract: Early college (EC) is a novel educational model in the US that combines high school and college in an effort to increase underrepresented students' access to higher education by providing engaging, hands-on instruction in a supportive learning environment. For this phenomenological inquiry, we sought to understand the role of care-based relating in a model early college by examining how relationships are manifested and experienced at this school. Through 30-45 minute interviews, eleven participants (three sophomores, three seniors, and five teachers) described EC teachers' high level of 1 The research reported in this paper is a result of a partnership sponsored by the University of North Carolina and the North Carolina New School Learning Laboratory Initiative. Vol. 25 No. 61 2 commitment to students' academic success through: (a) responsive instruction in classroom and group contexts; (b) additional learning support for individual students; and (c) varied experiences from traditional school contexts. EC teachers found these efforts fostered student commitment to learning. Additionally, teachers and students noted the extraordinary commitment of EC teachers to the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of learners demonstrated through: (a) family-like relationships; (b) promoting social and emotional wellbeing through timely advice and intervention; (c) joining students through tragic and intense personal and out-of-school realities; and (d) forming longitudinal connections with students and their families. However, this commitment resulted in teachers taking on significant burden when there was a lack of structural supports available for all learners. Findings hold implications for educational policy and school structuring that can promote educational equity and success through meaningful relationships, responsive practices, wrap-around services for students with out-of-school challenges, and teacher-support structures to ensure the longitudinal development and wellness of teachers, preventing burnout and attrition. Keywords: early college; care-based relating; teacher-student relationships "Esta es mi familia fuera de mi familia": Relación basada en un modelo de cuidado en la escuela secundaria y la universidad Resumen: "Early College" (EC) es un modelo educativo innovador en los Estados Unidos que combina la enseñanza media y la universidad en un esfuerzo para aumentar el acceso de los estudiantes sub-representados a la enseñanza superior, proporcionando instrucciones prácticas e involucradas en un ambiente de aprendizaje de apoyo. Para esta investigación fenomenológica, buscamos comprender el papel de la relación basada en un modelo de cuidado de la universidad al examinar cómo las relaciones se manifiestan y se experimentan en esta escuela....

Aging brings with it a certain commitment to improving the lives of future generations and to giving back by engaging in productive pursuits that provide psychological well-being (Versey & Newton, 2013). Leaders and adults develop a heightened sense of communion with self and others and derive meaning and satisfaction through serving others (Slater, 2003). We present findings from a focus group comprised of nine college-educated women professionals from three countries, gathered for the purpose of discussing generativity in educational leadership. Purposeful sampling was employed to allow variation and representation of women in educational leadership. Positions held by focus group members ranged from principals, directors, professors to deans. The specific purpose was to obtain an in-depth understanding of experiences of women as they engaged with the concept of generativity in their personal and professional lives. The results suggested that commitments to generativity activities varied by experience, age, and race. Another important finding was the categorization of participant women into distinct identity markers of pathmakers, guardians, searchers and drifters (Josselson, 1996) as reflected by the focus and nature of their generativity activities. Further studies with women from different socioeconomic backgrounds and fields other than educational leadership need to be conducted to establish the universality of our findings. Keywords: women, educational leadership, generativity