PREFACE
NCPEA Friends,
I am pleased to present the 2008 Yearbook:Leadership on the Frontlines:Changes in Preparation and
Practice.This volume represents the collective work of many individuals. I owe a great deal of thanks to the As-
sociate Editors. The incredible reviewing and editing skills of Chuck Achilles was invaluable. As well, the sup-
port and involvement of Betty Alford is greatly appreciated. My graduate assistant, Ric Brunner, was amazing.
With the submission of over 80 letters of intent which yielded 60+ submitted papers and the timely evaluations
of 85 reviewers responding from the near 210 asked produced this Yearbook. Without the support of so many
volunteers this volume could not have been completed. I am especially beholden to Beverly Irby, Linda
Lemasters, Carleton Holt, Mick Arnold and especially, Ric Brown who did a lion’s share of reviewing in addi-
tion to the assistant editors. Reviewing over 60 papers required over 200 review requests. If you let me know that
you could not review when you were asked, I appreciated your honesty. For those who participated, I am deeply
appreciative of all your incredible scholarly work.
In addition to the 27 accepted papers, the volume contains four invited papers: the 2007 Living Legend,
2007 Cocking Lecture, the 2007 Corwin Lecture and the 2006 Cocking Lecture. These papers address the im-
portant topics of social justice, leadership preparation, professional collaboration and the culture proficient
professoriate.
The blind peer reviewed accepted papers have been divided into five topics. In the first series of papers (Part
2), the issues of leadership preparation are addressed. The topics of these papers include the development of
school leaders in general and the specific development of principals across variables such as authentic practice,
interpersonal skills, collaboration and cross cultural skills. In addition issues of standards, models of practice
and assessment are covered. The technology in preparation programs is the topic of Part 3. The two papers dis-
cuss the role of technology in preparation programs and the human aspect of distance education programs. In
Part 4, critical theory and leadership practices is presented. The papers address diversity, cultural proficiency
and the role of education leaders in meeting the needs ofour nation’s students. Leadership practices in K-12 set-
tings comprises Part 5. The values, structure and context of the work of school leaders is carefully dissected.
Also, issues of testing, licensure and professional development are discussed. In the final section, Part 6, our
work in higher education appears. Topics cover program evaluation and the importance of mentoring.
It was during my presidency in 1991 that as an organization we approved the Yearbook publication first pub-
lished in 1992. The initial intention and for these last seventeen years remains the same—highlight rigorous and
high quality research and scholarship for education administration professors and practitioners to use in their
courses and schools. Our hope, then and now, is that you will utilize the Yearbook as a course text for current
leadership issues and within our schools for currency of practices. This is a terrific volume.
All best wishes,
Rosemary Papa, Yearbook Editor
Del & Jewell Lewis Endowed Chair, Learning Centered Leadership
Northern Arizona University
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