Principal's Handbook for Leading Inclusive Schools

Behind every successful inclusive school is a great principal with passion, vision, and a practical plan. With so much riding on their strong and proactive leadership, every principal and administrator will want this how-to book: the essential guide to bringing schoolwide inclusion from theory to practice. Covering everything from the basics of special education to the everyday nuts and bolts of making inclusion work, two renowned inclusion experts give readers clear guidance they can use right away to lead a fully inclusive school where every student learns and belongs. New and veteran administrators will discover how to make schoolwide (and districtwide) reforms that support social and academic success—and help all students reach their full potential.

LEARN HOW TO:

• Provide all students with access to the general education curriculum in the least restrictive environment
• Solicit input and expertise from everyone-teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff
• Promote close collaboration between general and special educators
• Create inclusive service delivery
• Implement academic and social supports that meet the individual needs of each student
• Make sound decisions about content-specific accommodations and modifications
• Facilitate use of gentle and positive supports to resolve challenging behavior
• Partner effectively with school staff and families
• Create a school culture that encourages independence and high expectations for all
• Relieve job-related stress and avoid burnout

PRACTICAL MATERIAL: Concrete, real-world tips and strategies; first-person stories from school leaders; answers to commonly asked questions in every chapter; helpful checklists and forms on co-teaching, behavior support, school reform planning, and more.

Click here to watch a recording of Dr. Causton's webinar - The Role of the Paraprofessional in the Inclusive Class

Download a free and printable 'Principal job description' poster for your office or classroom

George Theoharis, Ph.D., is Associate Dean in the School of Education and Associate Professor in Educational Leadership and Inclusive Elementary Education in the Department of Teaching and Leadership, Syracuse University. He has extensive field experience in public education as a principal and as a teacher. George teaches classes in educational leadership and elementary/early childhood teacher education. His interests, research, and work with K–12 schools focus on issues of equity, justice, diversity, inclusion, leadership, and school reform. His book The School Leaders Our Children Deserve (Teachers College Press, 2009) is about school leadership, social justice, and school reform. He is co-editor of a new book What Every Principal Needs to Know to Create Excellent and Equitable Schools (Teachers College Press, 2013). George's published works appear in such journals as Educational Administration Quarterly, Educational Leadership, Equity & Excellence in Education, International Journal of Inclusive Education, Journal of School Leadership, Journal of Special Education Leadership, Remedial and Special Education, The School Administrator, Teachers College Record, and Urban Education. He co-runs a summer leadership institute for school administrators focusing on issues of equity and inclusion as well as a school reform project called Schools of Promise. His doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis is from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Richard A. Villa, Ed.D., has worked with thousands of teachers and administrators throughout North America and the rest of the world in developing and implementing instructional support systems for educating all students within general education environments. Dr. Villa has been a classroom teacher, special education coordinator, pupil personnel services director, and director of instructional services. He has authored more than 70 articles and book chapters regarding inclusive education and has co-edited three previous books for teachers, administrators, and parents: Restructuring for Caring and Effective Education: An Administrative Guide to Creating Heterogeneous Schools (Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 1992), Creativity and Collaborative Learning: A Practical Guide to Empowering Students and Teachers (Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 1994), and Creating an Inclusive School Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, (1995). He has presented at numerous national and international conferences and is known for his enthusiastic, humorous style of presenting.

Julie Causton, Ph.D., is an expert in creating and maintaining inclusive schools. She is an associate professor in the Inclusive Special Education Program at Syracuse University. She teaches courses on inclusion, differentiation, special education law and collaboration. Her published works have appeared in such journals as Exceptional Children, TEACHING Exceptional Children, Journal of Research in Childhood Education, International Journal of Inclusive Education, Behavioral Disorders, Studies in Art Education, and Equity and Excellence in Education. Julie also works with schools and districts directly to help to create truly inclusive schools.