Inspiring Practice: Spirituality & Educational Leadership

The quality of a school depends on the spiritual qualities of its leaders. But what is the spiritual? Can or should spirituality be brought to bear by school administrators—in any meaningful way—without legal violation or personal offense? This book answers these questions positively and practically. It shows how ideas and insights from Eastern and Western traditions, secular and religious, can and do play a role in school improvement. Educators will find here beliefs that can shape a school’s policies and practices, making them more far-reaching and benign. At the same time, the book lays out the legal constraints on different ways the spiritual can and cannot be manifest. This volume is a gateway to a new understanding of school leadership—one that connects the inner life to the day-to-day. It shows how spirituality provides a unique understanding of the work of school administrators and the teachers and students they are expected to inspire. It can be read and consulted by leaders seeking a more significant context for administrative decisions, policies, and handling of people.