Charol Shakeshaft
Virginia Commonwealth University, Educational Leadership, Faculty Member
- My research – with some diversions -- focuses on three strands: gender and leadership, sexual abuse of students by ad... moreMy research – with some diversions -- focuses on three strands: gender and leadership, sexual abuse of students by adults employed in schools, and technology for learning. In all the research I do, I come from an activist perspective, researching questions that are key to social justice change. I use multiple methods: analysis of secondary data, survey research, meta-analysis, qualitative approaches, historical analysis, experimental and quasi experimental methods, and cost analysis.edit
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Faced with decreasing budgets, principal attrition and the pressure for increasedlevels of student performance, school divisions must develop and support leaders who can “do more with less” and are equipped for success when facing the... more
Faced with decreasing budgets, principal attrition and the pressure for increasedlevels of student performance, school divisions must develop and support leaders who can “do more with less” and are equipped for success when facing the many challenges of school leadership. EduLead promotes a continuum of skilled school leadership through its five programs and regional partnership design. This innovative approach was created to build leadership capacity for aspiring, new, and established educational leaders through a continuum of novel and non-traditional leadership development programs. EduLead’s work represents an example of a highly collaborative school, corporate and university partnership that engages the regional community in the success of schools. Supporting regional efforts ensures a pipeline of skilled school-level leaders and promotes effective succession planning. EduLead’s leadership development activities are made possible through the financial and programmatic support of corporate and Foundation partners who are invested in the success of children in regional K-12 schools
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Against the backdrop of digital gaming, this chapter presents a cutting-edge, immersive, online video simulation of events that follow the calendar of a year in a chronically low-performing middle school in the United States. The... more
Against the backdrop of digital gaming, this chapter presents a cutting-edge, immersive, online video simulation of events that follow the calendar of a year in a chronically low-performing middle school in the United States. The traditional approach to preparing educational leaders has been harshly criticized by those who have, at times, shared in sustaining the traditional approach. The time is right for innovation. The intention of this simulation is to engage potential educational leaders in the professional development of their leadership skills. These skills are designated in a range of standards-based documents generated by the individual states in the United States, as well as at the national level by the Educational Leadership Policy Standards: 2008 document issued by the Council of Chief State School Officers. A highly sophisticated back-end to this simulation gathers evidence of both engagement and learning. The online format empowers anytime/anywhere learning in a mistake-tolerant educational setting at minimal incremental cost.
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The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) is focused on encouraging Schools of Education to reclaim the education doctorate (EdD) (Shulman, Golde, Bueschel, & Garabedian, 2006) by developing EdD programs that refine the... more
The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) is focused on encouraging Schools of Education to reclaim the education doctorate (EdD) (Shulman, Golde, Bueschel, & Garabedian, 2006) by developing EdD programs that refine the leadership skills of practitioners of educational leadership who wish to remain in practice. The creation of such programs implies a set of courses and emphases that are distinct from those conventionally offered in the PhD. As Mezirow (1990) asserted, “we learn differently when we are learning to perform than when we are learning to understand what is being communicated to us” (p. 1). This is not to say that the CPED-aligned EdD is devoid of learning to understand, but the emphasis on practice suggests that the identical course will not conform well to both EdD and PhD programs. In this context, the EdD has to overcome an “80-year history of confusion” (Perry, 2011, p. 3)—a history during which it has sometimes been referred to as “PhD-Lite” (Shulman et al., p. 27)—on its way to being known as “the highest professional degree in education” (Shulman et al., p. 28). To facilitate the process, Shulman et al. (2006) proposed “a ‘zero base’ approach to design, without any of the assumptions that characterize the status quo” (p. 28).
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Research Interests: Computer Science, Education, Educational Technology, Educational Leadership, Multimedia, and 10 moreProblem Based Learning, Modeling and Simulation, INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP, Vignettes, Computer Simulation, Teaching Methods, Interactive Learning, Video technology, Computer Uses In Education, and Decision Making Skills
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... ilo. org/public/english/bureau/inf/magizine/5. 26 Margaret Grogan and Charol Shakeshaft ... Synergistic leadership: An inter-national case study: the transportability of the syner-gistic leadership theory to selected educational... more
... ilo. org/public/english/bureau/inf/magizine/5. 26 Margaret Grogan and Charol Shakeshaft ... Synergistic leadership: An inter-national case study: the transportability of the syner-gistic leadership theory to selected educational leaders in mexico.(doctoral dissertation, Sam Houston ...
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... a new leadership emphasis that relies on diverse perspectives to craft new solutions to problems. ... She asked school board members to draw up a list of all the people who ... Perhaps the most important understanding that connects... more
... a new leadership emphasis that relies on diverse perspectives to craft new solutions to problems. ... She asked school board members to draw up a list of all the people who ... Perhaps the most important understanding that connects women leaders to others is the passion many ...
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Encouraged by the evidence we have found in the research on women in educational leadership, in this chapter we offer some ways to reconceptualize the work of leadership to engage the collective voice and to challenge the status quo in... more
Encouraged by the evidence we have found in the research on women in educational leadership, in this chapter we offer some ways to reconceptualize the work of leadership to engage the collective voice and to challenge the status quo in the name of equity and diversity.https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/education_books/1112/thumbnail.jp
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Communication between women and men has long been the basis of both humor and folklore in the human drama of life. From the cry of "What do women want?" to the characterization of men as unable to express emotions, men and women... more
Communication between women and men has long been the basis of both humor and folklore in the human drama of life. From the cry of "What do women want?" to the characterization of men as unable to express emotions, men and women have been stereotyped as people ...
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This book is about the relationship between sexuality and leaders. I study school employees who sexually abuse students. The relationship between my research and the purpose of this book relates to my focus on how educator sexual... more
This book is about the relationship between sexuality and leaders. I study school employees who sexually abuse students. The relationship between my research and the purpose of this book relates to my focus on how educator sexual misconduct has been allowed to continue. When asked why school employees sexually abuse children, I respond, "because they can." By that I mean that little is done to stop this abuse.
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This chapter addresses the complex ways in which heterosexism underlies adolescents' ideologies of masculinity and femininity--in their self-concepts, in their relationships, and within gender relations at school. We explore... more
This chapter addresses the complex ways in which heterosexism underlies adolescents' ideologies of masculinity and femininity--in their self-concepts, in their relationships, and within gender relations at school. We explore girls' and boys' descriptions of their gender identity and the role assumptions about heterosexuality play not only in their conceptions but in the social culture of school.
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... ilo. org/public/english/bureau/inf/magizine/5. 26 Margaret Grogan and Charol Shakeshaft ... Synergistic leadership: An inter-national case study: the transportability of the syner-gistic leadership theory to selected educational... more
... ilo. org/public/english/bureau/inf/magizine/5. 26 Margaret Grogan and Charol Shakeshaft ... Synergistic leadership: An inter-national case study: the transportability of the syner-gistic leadership theory to selected educational leaders in mexico.(doctoral dissertation, Sam Houston ...
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... Nowhere does the impact of gender on supervision become more evident than in the area of feedback. ... Because of this, women, from birth onward through school and into adult life, receive subtle and not-so-subtle messages about their... more
... Nowhere does the impact of gender on supervision become more evident than in the area of feedback. ... Because of this, women, from birth onward through school and into adult life, receive subtle and not-so-subtle messages about their worth. ...
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ED479479 - The Pool of African American Candidates for the Superintendency.
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The sexual exploitation of students is a worldwide problem. In the U.S., the problem is three-fold: (1) Ten percent of public school students report being sexually abused by a school employee. (2) There is little in the existing research... more
The sexual exploitation of students is a worldwide problem. In the U.S., the problem is three-fold: (1) Ten percent of public school students report being sexually abused by a school employee. (2) There is little in the existing research that identifies and describes the school culture, patterns, and conditions in which educator sexual misconduct occurs. (3) Because no one has systematically documented the school culture and the behaviors and patterns of adults who sexually abuse children in schools, school professionals fail to understand what patterns and behaviors should trigger concern, supervision, investigation, and/or reporting. Stopping sexual misconduct directed toward students means understanding the process that adults use to prepare students to be abused so that they do not tell, do not fight, and acquiesce. This process, called grooming, has the purpose of gaining student trust, as well as the trust of parents and colleagues. This study examines school employee sexual m...
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This paper describes the use of advanced computer technology in an innovative educational leadership program. This program integrates full-motion video scenarios that simulate the leadership challenges typically faced by principals over... more
This paper describes the use of advanced computer technology in an innovative educational leadership program. This program integrates full-motion video scenarios that simulate the leadership challenges typically faced by principals over the course of a full school year. These scenarios require decisions that are then coupled to consequences and scored in the background to create a profile of learner strengths and needs. Because the content has been filmed in an operating school and because of the unique choice-consequence sequences, the immersive and interactive simulation triggers more potent learning than is possible with either previous paper-and-pencil or discussion-based techniques. The scenarios are embedded in a Web-enabled framework that facilitates the provision of individualized feedback tailored to the specific choices made by the learner, and supports the collection of multiple metrics that relate to the performance of the learner and the learning framework itself. Proje...
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Part of the Educational Leadership Commons This Research Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Dept. of Educational Leadership at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Educational Leadership... more
Part of the Educational Leadership Commons This Research Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Dept. of Educational Leadership at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Educational Leadership Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact
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K–12 school employee perpetrated student sexual abuse, misconduct, and exploitation is the sexual boundary crossing of school employees to include verbal, visual, physical, and/or social media conduct of a sexual nature by a school... more
K–12 school employee perpetrated student sexual abuse, misconduct, and exploitation is the sexual boundary crossing of school employees to include verbal, visual, physical, and/or social media conduct of a sexual nature by a school employee directed toward a student. The sexual abuse of students by school employees is a worldwide problem that is under-documented and systematically ignored. Empirical work published since the first studies in the early 1980s explore five questions. How prevalent is the sexual abuse of students in schools? Who abuses? Who is abused? How does it happen? And, how can it be prevented?
This report describes West Virginia's Basic Skills/Computer Education (BS/CE) program and connects its features to gains in student test scores that are practically and statistically significant. The program consists of three... more
This report describes West Virginia's Basic Skills/Computer Education (BS/CE) program and connects its features to gains in student test scores that are practically and statistically significant. The program consists of three components: (1) software that focuses on the state's basic skills goals in reading, language arts, and mathematics; (2) enough computers in the schools so that all students will be able to have easy and regular access to the basic skills software; and (3) professional development for teachers in the use of the software and the use of computers in general. Data were collected from all fifth graders (n=950) in 18 elementary schools selected to represent the range of variables that might influence technology use and student achievement. Survey data were also collected from 290 teachers. Results were analyzed using a model that includes access to software and computers, attitudes toward technology, and teacher training and involvement. The relationship of B...
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This research examined the pool of African descent candidates for superintendencies, focusing on superintendent openings and the superintendent pool in New York. The inquiry involved 3 studies conducted over the course of 2 years. The... more
This research examined the pool of African descent candidates for superintendencies, focusing on superintendent openings and the superintendent pool in New York. The inquiry involved 3 studies conducted over the course of 2 years. The first study documented the representation of African American candidates in the superintendent applicant pool pipeline, surveying search consultants and presidents of boards of education. The second study examined, from the perspective of male applicants, who was applying for superintendent positions and the kinds of districts to which they applied. The third study explored the job-seeking experiences of African American and white candidates for superintendent positions through individual and focus group interviews. Data analysis indicates that African descent candidates are still underrepresented in the superintendency, are still required to have better credentials, and are still typed as appropriate for minority districts only. Search consultants rarely move African descent candidates forward after the first interview. Although there are many candidates of African descent in the superintendent pool, they are not being fully utilized. (Contains 28 references.) (SM)
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The traditional literature in school administration largely ignores women. It tells us little about their past or present lives, nor do we hear of their struggles. Only in the past decade has there begun to be a literature about women in... more
The traditional literature in school administration largely ignores women. It tells us little about their past or present lives, nor do we hear of their struggles. Only in the past decade has there begun to be a literature about women in school administration, and only in the past couple of years have scholars begun talking about examining current theory and practice for the impact of gender. This book was written as a response to that vast quantity of literature published on administration and administrators which purports to be comprehensive.
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Encouraged by research findings about ways many women lead when given a chance, and by the conviction that these ways held promise for a redefinition of educational leadership, we decided to document the positive and to imagine the value... more
Encouraged by research findings about ways many women lead when given a chance, and by the conviction that these ways held promise for a redefinition of educational leadership, we decided to document the positive and to imagine the value of everyone leading like women.Our premise that traditional approaches to leadership have left millions of children behind in our schools leads to the conclusion that a new definition of leadership is urgently needed.
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The ways in which administrators, as the formal leaders of schools, conceptualize the issue of sexuality will determine what gets into the curriculum and how.Whether introducing a sexuality curriculum into a southern state or developing a... more
The ways in which administrators, as the formal leaders of schools, conceptualize the issue of sexuality will determine what gets into the curriculum and how.Whether introducing a sexuality curriculum into a southern state or developing a comprehensive approach to HIV education, administrators are part of the political and academic equation.
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Educator sexual misconduct is behavior by an educator that is directed at a student and intended to sexually arouse or titillate the educator or the child. These behaviors are physical, verbal or visual.
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In a country where 71% of all K-12 teachers and 88% of elementary teachers are female, it is more curious that by 1993, only 7.3% of superintendents, 24% of assistant superintendents, and 34% of principals are female (Montenegro, 1993).... more
In a country where 71% of all K-12 teachers and 88% of elementary teachers are female, it is more curious that by 1993, only 7.3% of superintendents, 24% of assistant superintendents, and 34% of principals are female (Montenegro, 1993). There is still much we do not know about sex discrimination, about female career patterns, about women leaders, and about inclusive conceptualizations of managerial and administrative theory. This book takes us farther down these roads toward a better understanding of women in leadership.
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The research on gender and management begins with women's representation in formal leadership positions, explores access and barriers to access, and examines female leadership patterns. Across countries, one of the first things... more
The research on gender and management begins with women's representation in formal leadership positions, explores access and barriers to access, and examines female leadership patterns. Across countries, one of the first things researchers want to know is how many and at what levels women are found in organizational management. Once women's representation has been documented, researchers pursue data that help to explain why women do not hold more positions in school management. Then, the ways women manage -- often in contrast with men -- are explored.
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The purpose of this chapter is to explore issues of gender in educational change. The scholarship on change rarely explores gender issues, and, when gender is considered, it is usually synonymous with female.
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This chapter addresses the complex ways in which heterosexism underlies adolescents' ideologies of masculinity and femininity--in their self-concepts, in their relationships, and within gender relations at school. We explore girls' and... more
This chapter addresses the complex ways in which heterosexism underlies adolescents' ideologies of masculinity and femininity--in their self-concepts, in their relationships, and within gender relations at school. We explore girls' and boys' descriptions of their gender identity and the role assumptions about heterosexuality play not only in their conceptions but in the social culture of school.
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This account is a reconstruction of the process the members of the Department of Administration and Policy Studies at Hofstra University used and is still using to redesign our preparation programs for school administrators.
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This chapter reviews the differing forms of sexual violence that target students in schools and includes bullying, teasing, and harassment and the issues of gender associated with both.
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The purpose of this chapter is to review women's representation in school administration, to identify the barriers that have kept women from attaining administrative positions, and to explore some of the strategies and programs that have... more
The purpose of this chapter is to review women's representation in school administration, to identify the barriers that have kept women from attaining administrative positions, and to explore some of the strategies and programs that have been developed to overcome these barriers.
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This chapter focuses on the relationship that stress and health has to a woman superintendent's life.
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This chapter examines the representation of women in school administration and the struggle to expand the profession both through increased numbers of women and through conceptualizing administration in ways that are inclusive of gendered... more
This chapter examines the representation of women in school administration and the struggle to expand the profession both through increased numbers of women and through conceptualizing administration in ways that are inclusive of gendered experience and perception.
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Some suggestions have been given for ways to incorporate the proposed paradigm for research on women in educational administration into topic areas that have already begun to be explored in the literature.
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Research on women administrators uncovers differences between the ways men and women approach the tasks of administration. These differences have implications for administrative training programs, which were developed by men primarily for... more
Research on women administrators uncovers differences between the ways men and women approach the tasks of administration. These differences have implications for administrative training programs, which were developed by men primarily for men.