Striving for Equity ― District Leadership for Narrowing the Opportunity and Achievement Gaps

Based on in-depth interviews, Striving for Equity brings to light the complex and illuminating stories of thirteen longtime superintendents—all leaders of the Minority Student Achievement Network (MSAN)—who were able to make progress toward narrowing opportunity and achievement gaps in traditional school districts with diverse populations and multiple, competing agendas. Drawing on current research in organizational learning, the authors introduce a framework consistent with the systemic perspective of these superintendents to help school leaders who want to prioritize the narrowing of gaps.
 
Core chapters are devoted to discussing in detail the central strategies of these superintendents, and illustrating how each of these leaders employed them in their particular circumstances. This book reveals the multifaceted, personal nature of this work and factors that proved to be most critical to progress.

Robert G. Smith is an associate professor in the Education Leadership program at George Mason University, and a founding member of MSAN.S. David Brazer is an associate professor and faculty director of Leadership Degree Programs at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education.