Community-Centered School Leadership

Readers of Community-Centered School Leadership will come to appreciate the awesome power of the principal to shape, influence, support, and change a school.

Written by a successful elementary school principal, this book sheds light on everyday practices and shares practical strategies that support leaders’ growth and commitment to equity.

The author chronicles her formative years, education, and 24 years of experience as a principal, reflecting on the critical role of school leadership in the age of accountability and a political environment that influences the work of educators. Agna uses examples of social justice pedagogy to show how a principal’s role and responsibilities can be adapted to include being a change agent, as well as real-life stories that illustrate how leadership is manifest in a school committed to antibias education. This lifetime journey has been defined by a commitment to developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and antiracist practices to improve education for all children.

Book Features:

• An insider view of how childhood and educational experiences shape the educator, and how to lead without compromising your principles and ethics.
• Approaches for meeting state and national curriculum standards while integrating social justice in all that occurs in teaching and learning.
• Strategies for encouraging and incorporating teacher and student empowerment and voice in the operation of a school.
• Encouragement for classroom teachers to consider the principal’s job as an option on the career ladder.
• Photographs that illustrate the main points, as well as educator-friendly forms and templates principals can use with staff.

Gwen Agna has been an educator for over 45 years, most recently as the principal of the Jackson Street Elementary School in Northampton, MA.

“Using her own experiences as a springboard to understanding leadership as a lifelong pursuit of equitable education for all, Gwen’s book serves as a virtual mentor to those aspiring to lead the kind of school that children everywhere need.”
—From the Foreword by Sonia Nieto, professor emerita of language, literacy, and culture at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst

“Ms. Agna’s intentional kindness created a haven for learning and growing up. Her lessons in compassion and leadership remain close to my heart wherever I go. Reading her journey of nurturing such a school environment is sure to provide educators much-needed insight on how school culture is life-changing for students.”
—Giselle Ohm, former student, Jackson Street School

"I've had the amazing pleasure and honor of working in community with Gwen Agna for years and am so excited this book now exists! Her commitment to children, their caregivers, educators, and our community is at the center of everything she does. This book isn't just the story of an incredible educator, it's a vision for school leaders to hold on to now more than ever!"
—Tiffany Jewell, educator, activist, and author of the New York Times bestseller This Book Is Anti-Racist

"I visited the remarkable Jackson Street School several times during Ms. Agna’s tenure as principal. Her story of Jackson’s Street’s evolution will ensure that emergent school leaders have a window into her deeply rooted style of compassionate leadership."
—Lesley Koplow, founding director, Center for Emotionally Responsive Practice at Bank Street College of Education

"Gwen Agna invites us to step away from the bustling hallways and humming classrooms into her homey principal's office for a cup of tea and conversation about the lessons she's learned in more than 45 years as an educator and leader. Her stories, told with grace and humility, will inspire all who are—or aspire to become—educational leaders."
—Mary Cowhey, cofounder of Families with Power/Familias con Poder, and author of Families with Power and Black Ants and Buddhists

“As an experienced public-school administrator, I found this book to be an inspiring and insightful reflection on the journey of educational leadership. From personal growth to systemic change, its thoughtful exploration of teacher development, school transformation, and the importance of student voice offers valuable lessons for educators committed to equity and excellence.”
—Todd H. Gazda, executive director, Collaborative for Educational Services